New US sanctions target Cuba’s oil shipping, electronics sectors

The US on Thursday imposed sanctions targeting Cuba’s oil and electronics sectors, as well as the daughter of the head of the island’s largest military-controlled business conglomerate, the state department said.

The new wave of sanctions includes, for the first time, two Chinese companies, accused of supplying Cuba’s military with electronics and other security equipment.

“Cuba’s ruling elite hoards the island’s energy and shipping resources for its own enrichment, leaving the Cuban people to contend with blackouts, fuel shortages, and a stagnant economy,” said the state department in a statement.

Since January, Washington has launched a devastating set of new sanctions and an oil blockade against Cuba, crippling the island nation’s economy and leading to widespread blackouts and shortages of necessities.

US president Donald Trump has hinted at launching a military intervention to overthrow the island’s Communist ruling party, and last month the US secretary of state urged Cubans to work with US intelligence services.

Among the companies sanctioned on Thursday was Cyprus-registered Caroil, which operates three oil tankers, and Panama-registered Tentacool.

Also added to the sanctions list was Any Rodriguez Lastres, the daughter of the already-designated chief of Grupo De Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), a military conglomerate.

GAESA is Cuba’s largest business conglomerate, with interests in all sectors of the country’s economy, and it was already sanctioned in May of this year.

The new sanctions also listed two Cuban state-owned companies, CubaElectronica and Tecnosime.

The Chinese companies sanctioned on Thursday include state-owned China National Electronic Import and Export Company (CEIEC) and private firm Beijing H&C Technologies.