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News > Cuba

Cuban President Says Helms-Burton Act Will Hurt the US Economy

  • Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban Communist Party leader Raul Castro and National Assembly President Esteban Lazo react during the enactment of the new constitution, in Havana

    Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban Communist Party leader Raul Castro and National Assembly President Esteban Lazo react during the enactment of the new constitution, in Havana | Photo: Reuters

Published 21 April 2019
Opinion

The Helms-Burton law, rejected by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, codified the economic blockade that the U.S. imposed on Cuba since 1962 and seeks to promote regime change on the Caribbean island.

The President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, warned on Saturday about the effects on the U.S. economy that Title III of the Helms-Burton Act can have if implemented.

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Cuban Workers' Congress Raises its Voice Amidst U.S. Blockade

In particular, the Cuban President pointed out the negative effects that the act would have on countries from the European Union (EU) and U.S. business partners in Washington.

"Many in the U.S. itself fear that the application of Title III will harm US finances; and cheers for learning from the failure of the Cold War," the President tweeted.

The Helms-Burton Act, which was passed in 1996 by former U.S. President Bill Clinton (1993-2001), codified the economic, commercial and financial blockade that the U.S. imposed on Cuba since 1962; it aims to promote regime change on the Caribbean island.

On April 17, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced the implementation of Title III, thus allowing Cuban-Americans to file lawsuits against Cuban and foreign entities outside of the U.S., a measure that is aimed at preventing Cuba from accessing foreign investment.

Faced with this situation, Diaz-Canel rejected the White House's aggressiveness and affirmed that his country will not surrender to U.S. demands.

"We Cubans do not surrender, nor do we accept laws about our destinies that are outside the Constitution. In Cuba we send Cubans. Cuba trusts in its strength and in our dignity," the Cuban leader said.

The Trump administration has caused unrest and sparked criticism in the international community over the implementation of this act, especially among their allies from the European Union and Canada. 

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