US Treasury Accused of Harassing Cuba's Suppliers

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the fine on the cheese and dairy company for violating blockade regulations by “making electronic financial transactions in which Cuba or a Cuban citizen had an interest” between February 2004 and March 2007, according to media reports in Miami, Florida.

It is the first fine imposed by the Treasury Department on a company for ties to Cuba since President Barack Obama took power, and it reaffirms the policy of blockading the island.

On January 16, the OFAC issued “legal clarifications” that tightened even further restrictions on travel by people from the United States to Cuba, affecting U.S. companies that provide charter flights, book travel or send remittances.

The measures announced four days after Obama was sworn in as president were interpreted at the time as the result of resistance by recalcitrant “Bush cronies,” officials who were not happy about the change in administration.

The OFAC is just one element of the enormous mechanism of aggression implemented against Havana by successive U.S. administrations. Thanks to this agency, the Treasury Department spies on U.S. citizens and foreigners who dare to maintain relations with Cuba. For years, the agency has spent millions of dollars and a good part of its labor power on spying on, detecting, and punishing individuals, companies and other entities.