WT/GC/COM/10  
 
22 July 2014  
(14-4253)  Page: 1/2  
General Council  Original: English/Spanish  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM CUBA 
The following communication, dated 17 July 2014, addressed to the Director-General of the World 
Trade Organization, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Cuba. 
 
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The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland presents its compliments to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization and has the honour of attaching herewith the 
denounce of the Republic of Cuba due to the harm caused to BNP Paribas French bank, for an 
alleged violation of the US blockade against Cuba.  
Likewise, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of  Cuba respectfully requests that this denounce 
be circulated to all Members of the World Trade Organization.  
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other 
International Organizations in Switzerland takes this opportunity to renew to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, the assurances of its highest and most distinguished consideration. 
 
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DECLARATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA 
On 30 June, the Departments of Treasury and Just ice of the United States and the State of New 
York imposed a record fine of 8970 billion US do llars to the BNP Paribas French bank, for its 
noncompliance with the US Government unilateral sanction regimes against various countries. In 
the specific case of Cuba, according to the US Attorney General Eric Holder, this banking institution 
is accused of having "processed thousands of transactions with Cuban entities, totaling more than 1700 billion dollars."  
This fine is the largest one imposed in the history of the US government for violating the blockade 
against Cuba and the existing sanctions against third countries. In trying to impose their extraterritorial laws to foreign companies, the United States undermines the rules of the 
International Law and this qualifies as an extrat erritorial and illegal use of the US legislation 
against a foreign entity.   
The World Trade Organization (WTO) cannot ignore this process. The WTO promotes 
uncompromising trade liberalization and its disciplines answer mainly to that goal. The US trade policy for the rest of the world responds to that goal. The US blockade to Cuba applied for more than 50 years, is inconsistent with the WTO rules and violates not only Cuba's right, but that of 
other Members due to the extraterritorial reach of its regulations, such as France in this case.  
 The blockade violates the freedom of trade, th e rules of National Treatment and Most-Favoured 
Nation which establishes the principle of non-discrimination. It also violates equal rights, 
obligations and benefits to all Members, without distinction. Besides, it is currently the longest-s t a n d i n g  v i o l a t i o n  o f  W T O  r u l e s .  M a n y  M e m b e r s  o f  t h e  O r g a ni z a t i o n  h a v e  b e e n  a f f e c te d  b y  t h e  
extraterritorial effect of the measures applied by the United States.  
 WT/GC/COM/10 
 
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  BNP Paribas French Bank joins the long list of financial, trade, economic and other types of 
entities, from the US and abroad, that have been subjected to punitive measures, in the context of the strengthening of the blockade and, particularly, of the financial persecution against Cuba.   
This example is clear evidence that global trade is in the hands of a country that, by its own will 
and the influence of its currency, decides the legality of almost all commercial transactions.  
Once again, the US government ignores the overwhelming international condemnation of this 
criminal and failed policy against Cuba. It is an outrage on the sovereignty of States and the rules of free trade and International Law.  
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