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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 17 april 2019

Trump to allow lawsuits over U.S. properties seized in Cuba

By DEB RIECHMANN and ezuela President Nicolas the key clause to avoid
MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN Maduro, who is holding those trade clashes and a
Associated Press power with help from other potential mass of lawsuits
WASHINGTON (AP) — Step- countries, including Cuba, that would prevent any fu-
ping up pressure on Cuba, China and Russia. The new ture settlement with Cuba
the Trump administration policy against Havana over nationalized proper-
will allow lawsuits against could deal a severe blow ties. Cuba has said it is will-
foreign companies do- to Cuba’s efforts to draw ing to reimburse the owners
ing business in properties foreign investment, and of confiscated properties,
seized from Americans af- spawn international trade but only if the communist
ter the island’s 1959 revolu- disputes between the U.S. government is also reim-
tion, a senior administration and Europe. bursed for billions of dollars
official said Tuesday. The administration official in damages generated by
The move marks a change who provided details of the six-decade U.S. trade
in more than two decades the shift spoke on condition embargo.
of U.S. policy on Cuba. of anonymity ahead of the In this Feb. 18, 2019, file photo, national security adviser John The announcement comes
President Donald Trump official announcement by Bolton speaks to the Venezuelan American community in Miami. at a moment of severe
has been taking steps to the State Department. Associated Press economic weakness for
isolate embattled Ven- After that announcement, national security adviser power. The act even allows Cuba, which is struggling
John Bolton is expected to lawsuits by Cubans who to find enough cash to im-
discuss the new policy dur- became U.S. citizens years port basic food and other
ing a speech Wednesday after their properties were supplies following a drop in
in Miami, which is home to taken. Canada, France, aid from Venezuela, and a
thousands of exiles and im- Spain, Great Britain and string of bad years in other
migrants from Cuba, Ven- other countries with large key economic sectors.
ezuela and Nicaragua. investments in Cuba have Foreign investment in Cuba
The speech at the Bay of ferociously protested the increased slightly in recent
Pigs Veterans Association is law and threatened to sue years, but it remains far be-
to be delivered on the 58th in the World Trade Organi- low the levels needed to
anniversary of the United zation if Washington tries to recapitalize the island’s di-
States’ failed 1961 invasion interfere with the business lapidated, often collapsing
of the island, an attempt to ties between Cuba and infrastructure. The Trump
overthrow the Cuban gov- another sovereign nation. administration’s decision is
ernment. “The extraterritorial appli- not expected to drive out
Johana Tablada, Cuba’s cation of the U.S. embar- major foreign players like
deputy director of U.S. af- go is illegal and violates Pernod-Ricard of France,
fairs, said on Twitter: “Be- international law,” said which makes Havana Club
fore they try to euphorically Alberto Navarro, the Euro- rum, or Spanish hotel chains
ride a wave of wicked- pean Union ambassador Melia or Iberostar, but it
ness and lies, they should to Cuba. “I personally con- could prove a major obsta-
take a dose of reality. The sider it immoral. For 60 years cle to new investment from
world has told John Bolton the only thing that’s result- foreign companies.
and the U.S. government ed from the embargo is “It will harm prospective in-
to eliminate the criminal the suffering of the Cuban vestment in Cuba. It will not
blockade against Cuba people.” cause people who are in-
and the Helms-Burton Act.” U.S. airlines and cruise lines vested in Cuba already to
The 1996 act gave Ameri- that bring hundreds of pull out now,” said Phil Pe-
cans the right to sue the thousands of travelers to ters, director of the Arling-
mostly European compa- Cuba each year appear ton, Virginia-based Cuba
nies that operate out of to be exempt from the key Research Center, who ad-
hotels, tobacco factories, provision of the Helms-Bur- vocated for closer relations
distilleries and other prop- ton Act. with Cuba and has consult-
erties that Cuba national- Every U.S. president since ed for U.S. companies look-
ized after Fidel Castro took Bill Clinton has suspended ing to invest.q