Cuban Companies to Defend Themselves Against ExxonMobil's Lawsuit

The CIMEX S.A. corporation and Unión Cuba Petroleo (Cuba Oil Union) will defend themselves in a US federal court against a lawsuit filed by the multinational ExxonMobil, pursuant to Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, it was reported here.

According to the Cubadebate news website, the two firms 'have taken formal steps, through their lawyers, to defend themselves in a federal court in the District of Columbia, in the United States.'

It will not be the first time, nor is it unusual, that Cuban companies defend their interests in the US judicial system, the website noted.

In this regard, Cubadebate pointed out that since 1960Cuban firms have done so on more than 40 occasions, and have secured favorable rulings in several cases.

The press release added that ExxonMobil oil company was the first major corporation to file a lawsuit against Cuban companies in a US court under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which came into force on May 2, 2019.

'The Cuban State has repeated on several occasions that the Helms-Burton Act is inapplicable on national territory and that no legal effects have been recognized, nor will be recognized; on the contrary, it will promote as many actions as necessary to prevent its enforcement, as established in the Cuban Dignity and Sovereignty Reaffirmation Act of 1996,' Cubadebate added.