Today, the Department of State is designating ten entities to further the Trump Administration's comprehensive push to end the Cuban regime's malign activities, both in Cuba and across our hemisphere. These actions target interlocking pillars of that apparatus: state-owned entities that funnel revenue to the regime and paramilitary forces, armed civilian groups, and surveillance organizations that repress the Cuban people.
As the Secretary said in his July 11 statement marking the five-year anniversary of the Cuban regime's brutal suppression of popular protests: "The United States will continue to use every tool at our disposal to both address the national security threats posed by the Cuban Communist regime, and to drive the economic and political reforms to give Cuba a better future."
All Department of State targets sanctioned today have been designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14404, which authorizes sanctions on persons determined to meet specified criteria related to repression in Cuba and other threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
Cuban Regime's Instruments of Repression
The following entities are designated for their direct roles in carrying out, enabling, and financing the Cuban regime's campaign of violent repression against its own people.
Milicias de Tropas Territoriales (MTT)
MILICIAS DE TROPAS TERRITORIALES (MTT) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(F) of E.O. 14404 for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of Cuba. MTT is a part-time civilian paramilitary force under the command of the already designated MINISTRY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF CUBA (MINFAR).
Association of Combatants of the CUBAN Revolution (ACRC)
ASSOCIATION OF COMBATANTS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION (ACRC) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of Cuba. ACRC is a social and paramilitary organization overseen by MINFAR that conducts surveillance on dissidents at the direction of the already designated MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR OF CUBA.
Corporacion Antillana Exportadora (ANTEX S.A.)
CORPORACION ANTILLANA EXPORTADORA (ANTEX S.A.) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Cuba's GRUPO DE ADMINISTRACION EMPRESARIAL S.A. (GAESA), a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order. ANTEX S.A. is a Cuban state-owned entity that manages the export of Cuban forced labor to Angola.
Rapid Response Brigades
RAPID RESPONSE BRIGADES is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of Cuba. The RAPID RESPONSE BRIGADES are armed civilian para-police groups organized and trained by the Cuban government.
Cuban Regime's Sources of Funding
The following Cuban state-owned entities are designated for generating and channeling revenue that sustains the Cuban regime.
Enetec S.A.
ENETEC S.A. is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(A) of E.O. 14404 for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Cuban economy. ENETEC S.A. is a Cuban entity engaged in the import and export of fuels and lubricants.
Coreydan S.A.
COREYDAN S.A. is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(A) of E.O. 14404 for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Cuban economy. COREYDAN S.A. is a Cuban state-owned entity engaged in the import of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels and related products.
Grupo Empresarial de Comerico Exterior (GECOMEX)
GRUPO EMPRESARIAL DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR (GECOMEX) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of Cuba. GECOMEX is a Cuban state-owned business group that manages the country's foreign trade, handling a significant share of imports and exports.
Organizacion Superior de Direccion Empresarial Caudal S.A. (CAUDAL)
ORGANIZACION SUPERIOR DE DIRECCION EMPRESARIAL CAUDAL S.A. (CAUDAL) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of Cuba. CAUDAL is a Cuban state-owned entity, specializing in insurance, reinsurance, financial services, and related professional services.
Grupo Empresarial de Transporte Maritimo Portuario (GEMAR)
GRUPO EMPRESARIAL DE TRANSPORTE MARITIMO PORTUARIO (GEMAR) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14404 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of Cuba. GEMAR is a Cuban state-owned entity with a strong presence in Cuba's maritime sector.
Ministry of Tourism of Cuba (MINTUR)
MINISTRY OF TOURISM OF CUBA (MINTUR) is designated pursuant to Sec. 2(a)(i)(F) of E.O. 14404 for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of Cuba. MINTUR is Cuba's ministry responsible for regulating tourism in and out of the country and constitutes the largest single player in the tourism sector outside of GAESA.
The Department's actions are being taken pursuant to E.O. 14404, which authorizes sweeping sanctions on Cuba, including against persons who support the Cuban regime's security apparatus and those responsible for repression in Cuba and other threats to U.S. national security. These actions also further the national emergency declared in E.O. 14380, "Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba" and the National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 (NSPM-5), which direct the Executive Branch to improve human rights, encourage the rule of law, foster free markets and free enterprise, and promote democracy in Cuba.
Sanctions Implications
As a result of today's sanctions actions, and in accordance with E.O. 14404, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all entities that are owned individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
All transactions and dealings by U.S. persons or persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Foreign persons that engage in transactions with persons designated pursuant to E.O. 14404-or that operate in the energy, defense and related materiel, metals and mining, financial services, or security sector of the Cuban economy, as identified in E.O. 14404-are themselves at risk of sanctions. Non-U.S. persons, including foreign financial institutions, should proceed with caution in any dealings with a party sanctioned under this authority. Actions to return assets to a sanctioned party or transfer them to another jurisdiction for potential use by the target could expose non-U.S. persons to significant sanctions risk. All property and interests in property of persons that are blocked pursuant to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) continue to be blocked. The CACR prohibits persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest, unless authorized or exempt.
The power and integrity of U.S. government sanctions derive not only from the U.S. government's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. Petitions for removal from the SDN List may be routed through OFAC's Reconsiderations Portal. Petitioners may also refer to the Department of State's Delisting Guidance page.
