A tougher embargo against Cuba for supporting Maduro | …

The United States has tightened Cuba's embargo today by fully implementing the Helms-Burton Act. The measure, which has not been applied since 1996 and has since been repudiated by the European Union, allows US courts to claim property on the island that was expropriated after the Cuban revolution.

But the United States' decision to activate Title III of the Helms-Burton Act for the first time in 23 years can not be read if it is not in the light of the current political crisis in Venezuela. Trump himself said Wednesday in an interview with Fox Business that he was proposing to Cuba a new opening as he stopped helping the Caribbean country. "A very tough embargo is awaiting Cuba's continued support for Maduro," said Trump, referring to Maduro's support, while the United States backed the opposition and self-proclaimed President Juan Guaidó.

The Cuban leader, for his part, confirmed that the US blockade would not make them derogate from its principles. "No force, threat or blockade can separate us from our principles of solidarity, internationalism, Americanism, Bolivarianism and Martians," said Miguel Diaz Canel. On his Twitter account, the President stressed that Latin America and the Caribbean is a zone of peace, proclamation that took place in Havana on January 29, 2014 during the celebration of the II Summit of the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Trump government estimates that in Venezuela about 25,000 Cubans would have acted in the intelligence and military sector, which Cuba denied at the same time and accused Washington of "shamelessly lying" . "The lies and slanders that constitute crimes against the Cuban people offend and also threaten the sovereignty of the people, and the evil practice that the empire justifies its defeat in Venezuela." More lies and threats, our peoples do not surrender, "he tweeted. Díaz Canel

But Cuba is not the only country to have repudiated the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, but the European Union has also regretted "deeply" the decision of the United States.

"The entry into force today of this law, suspended since its promulgation because of the rejection provoked at the international level, constitutes a violation of the commitments entered into in the EU-US agreements of 1997 and 1998, which both parties have continuously followed since then, "said Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Policy. The official also said the new move in Washington would cause unnecessary friction and weaken the confidence of the transatlantic badociation. According to Mogherini, the European Union believes that the extraterritorial application of unilateral restrictive measures is contrary to international law. She therefore baderted that she would use all appropriate measures to deal with the consequences of the application of the Helms-Burton Act. "We will continue to work with our international partners, who have also expressed their concern in this regard," concluded Mogherini.

The Cuban ambbadador to the European Union, Norma Goicochea, is said to be in agreement with Mogherini. "We are not afraid of a flight of investments, we are convinced that the EU will take all necessary measures to protect its investors (…) and will prevail over the decision to continue its activities with Cuba", said Goicochea.

The entry into force of Title III of this law gives the green light for legal action against multinational corporations operating on lands or buildings expropriated in Cuba after the revolution. That is why, from now on, American citizens (of which a large part of Cuban origin) are confiscated their property in Cuba will be able to sue any foreign company that will benefit from it in the courts of the North American country. This provision, activated by the Trump administration, had been systematically suspended since its adoption by all US presidents so as not to create friction with its allies. "We hope that there will be no impact and that the decision of the business community to continue relations with Cuba will be maintained," said the ambbadador to the United States. EU, stressing that it did not have figures concerning the possible companies concerned.

Foreign investment is one of the priorities of the Caribbean island to develop an economy affected by the US blockade. In 2017, the EU was the largest foreign investor in sectors such as tourism and construction.

The European Union, meanwhile, has promised to bring the case before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and recalled that it has the so-called blockade status to avoid the execution of US judgments and allow European companies to make amends. Goicochea expressed confidence in the effectiveness of this blockade law, but also expressed Cuba's interest in any instrument protecting economic, financial and trade relations.

In 2017, the island recorded a direct investment of 600 million euros from the EU, according to the European Commission. In the same year, Cuba attracted $ 2,000 million, nearly half of what is needed to boost its economy.