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Trade Sanctions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Questions (144)

Seán Crowe

Question:

144. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the fact that the Government of the United States of America may implement Title 3 of the Helms-Burton Act (details supplied); and if he will raise the matter with his US counterpart. [7137/19]

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Written answers

The 1996 Helms Burton Act is a US federal law which reinforces the US's long standing economic embargo against Cuba.

Since 1996, European persons or entities have remained potentially affected by the extraterritorial elements in Titles III and IV of the Act, but a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and US has waived Title III every six months and, as a result, European persons and entities have been protected from the relevant provisions of the Act.

On 16 January 2019, the US State Department announced that the next waiver, effective from 1 February 2019, would have a duration of 45 days only, the first time since the Act’s promulgation that the US has not waived Title III for six months.

This development has been noted by Ireland and our EU partners and I can confirm that the Helms-Burton Act was recently discussed at the EU Council Working Party on Transatlantic Relations (COTRA), at which Ireland was represented at official level. A presentation was given by the European External Action Service on this development and on the potential risks impacting the EU and its economic operators.

It is not clear at this stage what this move to a 45-day waiver period means for Irish and other EU entities that have operations in/with Cuba. My officials are in close contact with the EU Commission on this matter and are monitoring the situation closely.

I will engage with my US counterpart on the issue in due course, if required.

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