07/16/2026
The French shipping company CMA CGM suspended shipments to Cuba following U.S. Executive Order 14404, leaving dozens of containers of medical supplies for the Caribbean island stranded in Kingston, Jamaica...
The French shipping company CMA CGM suspended shipments to Cuba following U.S. Executive Order 14404, leaving dozens of containers of medical supplies for the Caribbean island stranded in Kingston, Jamaica.
Among the affected shipments is one from the solidarity organization SODePAZ, carrying more than 3.5 million syringes and needles for the healthcare system in Santiago, essential supplies for local hospitals.
CMA CGM stated that, following the May 1 executive order, reservations originating from or destined for Cuba were suspended until further notice, and that operations were being adjusted to comply with current U.S. regulations.
The shipping company offered to return the containers to the port of origin or transfer them to another shipping company, both options that would entail additional costs for shippers and solidarity organizations.
Meanwhile, the German company Hapag-Lloyd also announced the suspension of shipments to Cuba, citing risks of noncompliance stemming from the executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Executive Order 14404 expands sanctions against Cuba, including foreign individuals and entities linked to strategic sectors of its economy, reinforcing so-called secondary sanctions with extraterritorial reach.
In June, the deadline set by Washington for foreign companies to sever commercial ties with Cuba without facing reprisals expired, directly impacting trade and the supply of essential goods.
The provisions aim to penalize companies that maintain relationships with Cuban entities, under threat of restrictions on operating in the United States or accessing its financial system, thereby hindering access to food, medicine, and fuel.
The detained shipment is in addition to other shipments managed by SODePAZ and solidarity organizations, which seek to support the Cuban healthcare system amid a shortage of medical supplies exacerbated by the blockade.
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