Cuba rejects US negotiations, cites record embargo losses

Havana announced on Tuesday that the United States’ long‑standing trade embargo has produced record economic losses for Cuba, a situation the government says has been compounded by months of widespread electricity blackouts. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla described the power outages as “punishing” and noted that they have affected hospitals, schools and key industrial facilities across the island.

The Cuban Ministry of Economy estimated the current fiscal year’s losses at several billion dollars, citing reduced imports of fuel, spare parts and agricultural inputs that are restricted under the embargo. Officials said the shortage of hard‑currency earnings, combined with limited access to U.S.‑origin technology, has forced the national power grid to operate well beyond capacity, leading to rolling blackouts that began in late 2023 and have persisted into 2024. The government attributed the deteriorating energy situation to the inability to procure essential equipment and fuel, which it said are directly linked to the sanctions.

Cuba’s leadership reiterated calls for the United States to lift the embargo, arguing that its removal would restore critical imports, stabilize the electricity supply and reverse the reported financial damage. The foreign ministry urged the international community to support Cuba’s request, emphasizing that relief from the sanctions is essential for the country’s economic recovery and the well‑being of its citizens.