WORLD NEWS APRIL 16, 2019 / 1:30 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
In major shift, Trump to allow lawsuits against foreign firms in Cuba
Matt Spetalnick, Sarah Marsh
6 MIN READ
WASHINGTON/HAVANA (Reuters) - The Trump administration will allow lawsuits in U.S. courts for the first time against foreign companies that use properties confiscated by Communist-ruled Cuba since Fidel Castros revolution six decades ago, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.
The major policy shift, which will be announced on Wednesday, could expose U.S., European and Canadian companies to legal action and deal a blow to Cubas efforts to attract more foreign investment. It is also another sign of Washingtons efforts to punish Havana over its support for Venezuelas socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.
President Donald Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, will explain on Wednesday the administrations decision in a speech in Miami and announce new sanctions on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, countries he has branded a troika of tyranny, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
It is unclear, however, whether such property claims will be acceptable in U.S. courts. The European Union has already warned it could lodge a challenge with the World Trade Organization.
The extraterritorial application of the U.S. embargo is illegal, contrary to international law and I also consider it immoral, EU ambassador to Cuba Alberto Navarro said in Havana.
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