The Cuban regime rejected reports on Tuesday regarding commercial approaches between officials from the island and companies linked to President Donald Trump, in an interview granted to Reuters from Havana.
Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, was emphatic: "I have no knowledge of any company directly linked to President Trump that has made contact with Cuba."
The official added that neither he nor any other representative of the Cuban government had met with business executives associated with the U.S. president.
The denial directly responds to an investigation by The Guardian published on September 17, which revealed that executives linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump allegedly traveled to Cuba under the umbrella of Dominari Holdings — a company based in the Trump Tower in New York — to explore business opportunities in the hospitality sector.
According to that report, the executives are said to have met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," the grandson of Raúl Castro and an official of the MININT who has served as an informal channel between Havana and Washington.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump joined the advisory board of Dominari Holdings in February 2025 and together hold 13.4% of the company, according to regulatory documents cited by The Guardian.
In May of last year, the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, met with "El Cangrejo" in Havana, after Axios reported on secret conversations between Rodríguez Castro and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Beyond denying the contacts, Pérez-Oliva took the opportunity during the interview to emphasize that the U.S. trade embargo is the main obstacle to the economic reforms promoted by the Cuban government.
"It is not our policy to prohibit U.S. companies from investing in Cuba, trading with Cuba, or doing business of any kind with Cuba. What hinders this possibility is the existence of the trade embargo," the official stated.
He particularly pointed out the oil blockade imposed in January 2026, which the regime claimed reduced fuel imports by between 80% and 90%, virtually eliminating supplies from Mexico, Venezuela, and other historical suppliers, and resulting in electricity generation deficits exceeding 2,000 MW.
Pérez-Oliva also clarified that the mining companies Sherritt International and Antilles Gold have not withdrawn from Cuba, but are considering alternatives in light of U.S. sanctions.
The official's denial comes amid a week of contradictory signals between both governments. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated at the UN last Friday that Cuba is open to trade relations with U.S. companies, although he conditioned any agreement on negotiations "on a basis of sovereign equality and without preconditions."
On that same day, Trump stated at the White House that "Cuba and we will make a deal" and that he wants "to open Cuba to our people," ruling out immediate military action and opting for a negotiated solution.
The backdrop includes more than two dozen rounds of sanctions since January 2026 and the departure of European hotel chains such as Meliá and Iberostar, which was completed in July, while interest from U.S. investors in Cuban strategic assets in tourism, mining, and energy continues to grow.
Rodríguez Parrilla was even more direct when citing Secretary Rubio himself: "As the Secretary of State describes, the official policy of the United States is to close off every valve, exit, or formula for survival for Cuba."
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