Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla claimed on Monday that 7,000 containers filled with goods intended for Cuba are stuck in ports around the globe due to pressure from Washington on international shipping companies.
In a post on his X account, the Foreign Minister stated that these shipments were "previously contracted and paid for in accordance with international trade norms," and that most of them contain food, medicines, and medical supplies.
"Beyond the energy blockade causing severe humanitarian consequences, the U.S. government adds threats, pressure, and coercion to international shipping lines in order to restrict and disrupt Cuba's foreign trade," Rodríguez wrote, describing the hold-up as part of the "collective punishment that the U.S. government is imposing on the Cuban people."
The Cuban regime consistently blames Washington for the widespread crisis engulfing the island.
Background and International Impact
At the end of July, Deputy Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga had already reported to the National Assembly about more than 7,000 containers held in Caribbean and other regional ports. Just days prior, state entity MediCuba had specifically complained about the hold-up of medical supplies in Jamaica and Colombia, including nephrology equipment, blood bags, and sodium valproate in Cartagena.
The immediate backdrop is Executive Order 14404, signed by Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, which expanded secondary sanctions against foreign entities dealing with Cuba, particularly with the military-business conglomerate GAESA. As a direct consequence, shipping companies CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd suspended all bookings to and from the island, citing compliance risks, as confirmed by Reuters.
In June, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) set a deadline for foreign companies to sever ties with GAESA. By July, Washington had directly sanctioned the Mariel Container Terminal S.A. and Coral Marítima S.A., accusing them of transferring port control to evade previous restrictions. In August, eight Cuban state companies and the Ministry of Construction were added to the list of sanctioned entities.
Cuba's Diplomatic Moves and Economic Context
On September 4, Rodríguez had already criticized the new sanctions on the Banco Exterior de Cuba and entities in the energy and mining sectors, again using the term "collective punishment."
The repetition of the 7,000-container figure by the Foreign Minister comes a week after Cuba presented a report to the UN, estimating the cost of the U.S. embargo at a record $8,083.3 million between March 2025 and February 2026, a 7% increase from the previous period, as reported by EFE. According to the same report, the historical cumulative cost attributed to the embargo reaches $178,700.5 million at current prices, figures presented by the Cuban government without independent verification as part of its diplomatic campaign before international organizations.
The Cuban government attributes the supply shortages affecting the population to the embargo, although over six decades of mismanagement under a dictatorial regime is the structural cause of the deterioration affecting Cubans in their daily lives.
Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Sanctions and Cuban Trade
Why are 7,000 containers bound for Cuba stuck in ports worldwide?
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla claims that U.S. pressure on international shipping companies is causing these containers to be held up, impacting the delivery of essential goods like food and medicine to Cuba.
What is Executive Order 14404?
Signed by Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, Executive Order 14404 expanded secondary sanctions against foreign entities operating with Cuba, particularly targeting the military-business conglomerate GAESA. This has led to disruptions in trade with Cuba.
How does the Cuban government explain the current crisis?
The Cuban government attributes the ongoing crisis to the U.S. embargo, blaming it for the severe shortages faced by its population. However, decades of economic mismanagement under the Cuban regime are seen as the underlying cause of the nation's challenges.