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A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 6 March 2019

Trump symbolically tightens embargo on Cuba

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN makes Havana Club rum
MATTHEW LEE with a Cuban state distiller.
Associated Press “It is not intended to affect
HAVANA (AP) — The Trump European companies that
administration announced are currently doing busi-
Monday that it is tightening ness in Cub,” the State De-
the six-decade trade em- partment official said. “You
bargo on Cuba by allow- could not sue a European
ing lawsuits against Cuban or Japanese partner in a
companies using properties joint venture.”
confiscated after its 1959 Attorneys for Americans
revolution, though the im- with claims on confiscated
pact appears to be largely properties said the Trump
symbolic. decision to announce an
The announcement limits extremely limited partial lift-
lawsuits to a list of about ing of Title III of the Helms-
200 Cuban businesses and Burton act may itself be ille-
government agencies that gal because it violates their
are already subject to spe- clients’ rights to sue.
cial U.S. sanctions because “If this is the first step in a
they are tied to the Cuban strategic effort that will lead
military and intelligence In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, the Melia Cohiba hotel stands tall as workers repaint pavement to full enforcement of US
ministries. Virtually none of markings along the Malecon in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit in Havana, Cuba. law, it may be a good first
the businesses have any Associated Press step,” said attorney Jason
links to the U.S. legal or fi- reporters on condition of Trump administration raised of Cuban companies ar- Poblete, who represents a
nancial systems, meaning anonymity. the possibility of more biting bitrarily sanctioned by the group of Americans whose
the ability to sue is unlikely Every president since Bill sanctions in the near future: Trump administration,” For- property was confiscated.
to have any effect on the Clinton has suspended a It said this suspension would eign Minister Bruno Rodri- “However, partial waivers
Cuban economy or foreign section of the 1996 Helms- expire after 30 days while guez said on Twitter. are not mentioned in the
businesses that work with Burton Act that would allow most previous suspensions Major investors in Cuba in- statute and it raises poten-
the socialist government. such lawsuits because they have lasted six months. clude British tobacco giant tial equal protection and
Some of the businesses on would snarl companies The Cuban government Imperial Brands, which runs maybe other constitutional
the list are hotels operated from U.S.-allied countries called that an “unaccept- a joint venture with the Cu- questions.”
as joint ventures with for- in years of complicated able threat against the ban government making The measure is being pre-
eign companies, but the litigation that could prompt world.” premium cigars; Spanish sented as retaliation for Cu-
Trump administration mea- international trade claims “I strongly reject the State hoteliers Iberostar and Me- ba’s support of Venezuelan
sure does not allow the against the United States. Department’s announce- lia, who run dozens of ho- President Nicolas Maduro,
foreign companies them- The new action allows a ment to authorize lawsuits tels across the island; and who the U.S. is trying to oust
selves to be sued, a State small portion of Title III of the under Title III of the Helms- French beverage-maker in favor of opposition lead-
Department official told act to take effect, but the Burton act, against a list Pernod-Ricard, which er Juan Guaido.q

Back in Venezuela, Guaido asks state workers for support

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA last year was invalid, mak- short-term momentum to
Associated Press ing the legislative leader his campaign for political
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) interim president. At least change, Maduro has prov-
— Opposition leader Juan one pro-Maduro Supreme en resilient and still controls
Guaido on Tuesday ap- Court judge has accused the organs of state, includ-
pealed for support from Guaido of illegally usurping ing the critical loyalty of top
Venezuela’s state workers power, putting him at risk of military officers.
in his push to oust President arrest. Venezuela is gripped by a
Nicolas Maduro, whose Guaido had shrouded the humanitarian crisis that is
government has yet to route and timing of his re- expected to worsen as U.S.
comment on the defiant turn Monday in secrecy oil sanctions designed to
homecoming of his adver- amid concerns he might be put more pressure on Mad-
sary. detained. Yet he breezed uro take their toll. With both
Guaido said police officials through airport immigration political factions holding
were among those at a Venezuelan Congress President Juan Guaido, an opposition checks and brazenly called firm amid increasing de-
meeting that he held with leader who has declared himself interim president, greets a for Maduro’s downfall at a privation for Venezuelans,
leaders of public employee supporter as he arrives to meet with public employee unions in rally where the presence of some analysts speculate
unions, which rely heavily Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. security forces was minimal. that they might be consid-
on subsidies from Maduro’s Associated Press The United States and oth- ering negotiations on an
government to get by in a after a meeting at the offic- ing rights for public workers. er countries had warned end to the standoff.
country suffering from hy- es of an engineers’ associ- The 35-year-old leader of Maduro not to move Guaido, meanwhile, has
perinflation and shortages ation in Caracas. He urged the National Assembly said against his adversary, and called for big protests on
of food and other necessi- state workers to prepare he would call a meeting of he possibly realized arrest- Saturday, a tactic that has
ties. for a strike, though no date the legislature on Wednes- ing his foe could generate sometimes been coun-
“We’re not going to collab- was given and he said an day to craft the law. more street protests. tered by Maduro loyalists
orate any longer with the immediate priority will be to Guaido and his backers And while Guaido’s pres- with flag-waving rallies of
dictatorship,” Guaido said promote a law guarantee- say Maduro’s re-election ence is likely to add at least their own. q