New York, 15 October 2019. Several sectors related to Cuba's economic development face the hostile policy of U.S. blockade, now reinforced with the stance of Donald Trump's administration, not only towards the island, but towards all the progressive governments of Latin America.
Total losses in the transportation sector exceeded 170,000,000 dollars between April of 2018 and March of 2019.
For example, Cubana de Aviación S.A. cannot use the services of ATPCO (Airline Tariff Publishing Company), which publishes the airfares of more than 500 airlines and has its main offices at Washington Dulles International Airport; while the Spanish airline Air Europa (UX) refrained from finalizing the "Codeshare Agreement" and from fulfilling its commitment to Cubana de Aviación, since it is operating with Boeing, whose fleet is manufactured in the U.S.A.
Cuban industrial productions, on the other hand, suffered losses of more than 49,000,000 dollars because of the blockade.
For instance, the Business Group of the Chemical Industry (GEIQ, Spanish abbreviation) was unable to purchase spare parts and replacement machinery for air compressors, LEFI pumps and BURTON CORBLIN and GARO-brand equipment, due to the presence of American shareholders in these companies. This caused serious damage to chlorine production in Cuba. Likewise, it was not possible to rent ISO containers for medical oxygen, manufactured in the U.S., because the suppliers were afraid of being fined by the OFAC.
In the case of the energy and mines sector, repercussions on their companies amounted to 78,336,424 dollars.
The Moa Nickel S.A. joint venture suffered losses in the production of 40 tons of nickel and cobalt sulfides for export, due to the fact that the main manufacturers of key parts and parts for the production process have been withdrawn, as a result of the dissuasive effect of the blockade.
In September and November of 2018, two contracts were signed with General Electric International Inc., for additional supplies for the turbine at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant and to modernize the Pico Santa Martha Power Plant, respectively. However, on 5 February 2019 a notification was received from the U.S. CENTENNIAL BANK informing that, taking into account the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, financing for these two contracts had not been authorized.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations