The European Union threatened the United States to respond if it did not maintain "total exemptions" for its companies in Cuba

The European Union (EU) is willing to react with actions before the World organization of commerce (WTO) and in European courts if the United States harms their companies' investments in Cuba, warned in a letter to Washington that she could consult the AFP.

In a letter dated 10 April, the head of European diplomacy, Federica Mogheriniand the Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, They ask the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo maintain a "total exemption" for businesses and citizens of the EU.

"Otherwise, the EU will be forced to use all means for its achieve, even in cooperation with other international partners, to protect their interests ", warn officials, aiming to study "the possibility of initiating proceedings before the OMC".

EU considers extraterritorial effects of US embargo contrary to international law for your companies provided in the Helms-Burton Act of 1996. That year, they created the "Blockade Act", the effectiveness of which has never really been proven in the block.

Mogherini and Malmström warn that this rule "legally allows Union companies to recover, in the courts of the Union, any Title III claims filed against them in the United States. "

"Any lawsuit in US courts would likely be followed by counter claims by EU companies in EU courts", they add after recalling that most of the major claimants also had badets in the block.

If a European hotel chain, for example, claims in the European courts for US compensation for damages suffered, the amount could be "recovered by confiscation and sale" of your badets in the EUthey explain.

Since the approval of the standard in 1996,US leaders had postponed the entry into force of this clause every six months, avoid problems with countries allied to investment in the island.

When the law was pbaded, the State Department estimated that there were about 200,000 potential claims. The activation of the rule generates uncertainty because of the consequences for the United States partners.

(With information from AFP)