Cuba: awaiting new financial sanctions from the United States

Text by: RFI Follow

This Friday, June 12 comes into force in Cuba the last American sanction against the government of the island. This sanction targets the company Fincimex, which manages money transfers, in particular via the company Western Union. So since this announcement last week, Cubans are rushing to these agencies to receive what may be their last remesas, their last money order, in Havana

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with our correspondent in Havana, Domitille Piron

Will it close or not close? This question has been on everyone's lips in Western Union agency queues for a week. At the announcement of the US government to add FINCIMEX to the list of sanctioned companies, the Cubans rushed to these agencies to recover their rewards.

Indeed, from this Friday, it becomes prohibited for an American company to make transactions with this entity of the Cuban army, which notably manages money transfers. 

The young Carlos, who does not give his name, is the last in a queue of around 20 people. "  We are all waiting to see what will happen, " he explains. I came in case! Whatever happens, I preferred to come today!  " 

What Western Union will decide is the big unknown. With this measure, the administration wants Trump to withdraw its cash from the Cuban authorities, which through money orders recover dollars. But it is first of all the Cubans who will be punished.

The young sports teacher, whose salary paid by the state is 44 dollars, received from his father in Miami between 100 and 200 dollars per month. He fears that he will have to manage otherwise now. “  La remesa is what makes me live, it is my most important source of income. It allows me to go shopping, buy food. In any case, I use it for that to buy the essentials!  "

Western Union gradually limited its services

In the past few months, Western Union and its Cuban branch have already been targeted twice by the Trump administration. At the end of February 2020, Western Union suspended its services to Cuba from a country other than the North American neighbor. And in October 2019, the Donald Trump administration had already limited the sending of money orders to $ 1,000 per quarter per person. Western Union had opened these transfers to Cuba from around the world during the historic thaw between Havana and Washington.

► Read also : Weakened by coronavirus, Cuba requests to suspend payment of its debt 

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• Cuba
• Finance
• United States

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