U.S. expands Cuba sanctions to hit Chinese suppliers

The State Department announced on Thursday a new round of sanctions against Cuba, marking a sharper turn in Washington's economic pressure campaign. This move expands U.S. reach into specific sectors of the island's economy while directly penalizing foreign partners.

The administration issued a formal determination that targets eight entities and two individuals. Among the listed parties are China National Electronic Import and Export Company and Beijing H&C Technologies. Officials accused these two Chinese firms of procuring weapons and selling surveillance equipment to Havana's government.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ruling elite in Cuba is hoarding energy, shipping, and technology resources for their own enrichment. He stated that this behavior leaves the general population to deal with blackouts, shortages, and a stagnant economy. The new penalties cover electronics, manufacturing, marine, and technology sectors.

This escalation follows a trend of increasing friction between Washington and Havana over the past several months. U.S. representatives have exchanged public criticism with Cuban officials at the United Nations and on social media. The diplomatic standoff intensified after Trump threatened tariffs in late January on any nation selling oil to Cuba.

The U.N. General Assembly voted last week to condemn the U.S. embargo for the 34th consecutive year. However, U.S. diplomatic efforts led several countries to vote against the resolution or abstain, a departure from previous years. Cuba's domestic situation has worsened alongside the diplomatic dispute, with daily power outages now exceeding 24 hours as fuel reserves drop.