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The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba (MINTUR) on the List of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) this Monday.
The new round of sanctions targeted nine additional entities of the Cuban regime, including repressive agencies and state-owned companies.
The measure was announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) alongside a statement from the Department of State titled "Further Sanctions on the Sources of Funding and Tools of Oppression of the Cuban Regime".
"The Ministry of Tourism of Cuba (MINTUR) is designated under Article 2(a)(i)(F) of Executive Decree 14404 as a political subdivision, agency, or instrument of the Government of Cuba. MINTUR is the Cuban ministry responsible for regulating tourism both domestically and internationally, and it is the main actor in the tourism sector outside of GAESA," the statement notes.
The sanction against MINTUR comes at the worst moment for Cuban tourism in decades. During the first quarter of 2026, only 298,057 international visitors arrived on the island, a drop of 48% compared to the same period in 2025, with hotel occupancy plummeting to 12.9% and tourism revenues decreasing by 42.4%.
What other entities were sanctioned this Monday?
Among the designated entities are two organizations with a documented history of repression: the Rapid Response Brigades (BRR), established in June 1991, and the Territorial Troops Militias (MTT), founded in January 1980.
The BRR were one of the main instruments of violence during the protests on July 11, 2021, when their members attacked demonstrators with sticks and blunt objects.
The Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC) was also sanctioned, identified by human rights organizations as a participant in acts of repudiation and aggression against activists.
In the economic sector, the list included the Port Maritime Transport Business Group (GEMAR), the Foreign Trade Business Group (GECOMEX), OSDE Caudal S.A., and the Antillean Export Corporation S.A. (ANTEX), the latter directly linked to GAESA according to the SDN list itself.
Two companies from the fuel sector completed the round: COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A.
What do these sanctions from the United States imply for Cuban institutions?
According to the statement itself, the practical consequences for the sanctioned entities are extensive and go beyond a simple "blacklist." These are the main implications:
1. Asset freeze in the United States
All assets, bank accounts, investments, and other holdings of the sanctioned entities that are in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons or companies are blocked. These assets must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
2. Blocking of linked companies
All companies that are 50% or more owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more of the sanctioned entities are also blocked, even if they do not explicitly appear on the list.
3. Prohibition on doing business with Americans
No U.S. citizen, U.S. company, or person located in U.S. territory may engage in transactions with these entities unless there is a specific license from OFAC.
The prohibition includes: payments, contracts, provision of services, supply of goods, receipt of goods or services from those sanctioned.
4. Risk for foreign companies and banks
The statement warns that non-U.S. companies and financial institutions that maintain relations with the sanctioned entities may be subject to U.S. sanctions.
This risk is especially high for those operating in sectors considered strategic by Executive Order 14404, such as: energy, defense, metals and mining, financial services, and security.
5. Difficulties in accessing the international financial system
Although the sanctions are American, in practice, many international banks avoid dealing with entities included on the SDN list to avoid exposure to secondary sanctions or losing access to the U.S. financial system.
6. Prohibition on helping to conceal assets
The statement indicates that transferring assets to another country or attempting to return goods to a sanctioned entity can also generate liability and expose third parties to sanctions.
7. Inclusion in the SDN List
The entities are added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN), one of the most restrictive sanctions lists from the Department of the Treasury.
Being on that list usually causes banks, insurers, suppliers, and international business partners to suspend commercial relationships, even when they are not legally obligated to do so.
8. Possibility of requesting exclusion
Sanctions are not necessarily permanent. Entities can request their removal from the SDN List through the OFAC administrative process if they believe they meet the legal requirements for it.
In practical terms, the MINTUR could face greater difficulties in conducting international financial operations, hiring services, or reaching agreements with companies that have exposure to the U.S. market.
What other institutions have been sanctioned to date?
This new round of sanctions is part of a sustained offensive that began with the signing of the Executive Order 14404 by Trump on May 1, 2026, which expanded the legal framework to sanction strategic Cuban sectors and established a regime of secondary sanctions against foreign companies that operate with designated entities.
Since then, the designations have been progressive: on May 7, GAESA and its president Ania Lastres Morera were sanctioned, accused of managing illicit assets worth up to 20 billion dollars.
On May 18, the United States sanctioned the General Directorate of Intelligence (DGI), the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). On June 4, it sanctioned the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and ICAP. On June 11, the state oil company CUPET was sanctioned.
In total, the Trump administration has accumulated more than 240 restrictive measures against the Cuban regime since January 2026, consolidating maximum pressure on Havana across all economic, military, and security fronts.
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