Cuba Advocates for Trade Without Barriers or Coercive Measures

Cuba has called for trade free of non-tariff barriers and unilateral, discriminatory coercive measures, which includes special and differential treatment in favor of developing countries. This statement was made by Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.

During her address at the XII Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Conference, the diplomat highlighted the historic relations between Cuba and Italy, which have benefited from the fluid and respectful political dialogue between the two nations.

She affirmed that the holding of this event is an expression of the willingness to continue fostering economic, cultural, and scientific-technical relations with our region, pillars of the work of the International Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA) for over fifty years.

Given its importance, the Cuban News Agency transmits in full the intervention of Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, at the XII Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Conference on October 7, 2025.

Your Excellencies,

Allow me to express our appreciation to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA) for organizing this Conference.

Cuba highly values Italy's interest in strengthening its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean, based on historical links, mutual respect, and the development of mutually beneficial bonds. The convening of the twelfth edition of this Conference expresses the willingness to continue fostering economic, cultural, and scientific-technical relations with our region, pillars in the work of the IILA for over fifty years.

The outcomes of this conference could contribute to strengthening bi-regional cooperation between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), shortly before the IV Summit to be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, on November 9 and 10 of next month.

For Cuba, the discussion topics of this Conference are of high priority. We live in a very complex international context, marked by the effects of a multidimensional global crisis, exacerbated by the impacts of wars and conflicts in various forms, and by the application of unilateral coercive measures contrary to International Law, which affect the economic and social development of our peoples and jeopardize the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Cuba advocates for trade without non-tariff barriers, without unilateral and discriminatory coercive measures, which contemplates special and differential treatment in favor of developing countries, with emphasis on the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Distinguished delegates,

It is worth highlighting in this forum that Cuba carries out its economic, social, and cooperation programs amidst a prolonged, unjust, and illegal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States for over 60 years, which causes considerable damages to the Cuban people and its ties with the world due to its marked extraterritorial character. The blockade is entirely contrary to central themes of debate in this conference, such as economic growth and free trade.

The Cuban people and government appreciate the traditional support of Italy and the Latin American and Caribbean nations represented here in the battle for the lifting of the blockade, as well as their rejection of Cuba's inclusion on the arbitrary and unilateral list of States allegedly sponsoring terrorism, issued by the U.S. Department of State, which has devastating effects on the economy and living conditions of the population of my country.

Dear colleagues,

A grave danger looms over Latin America and the Caribbean today, which could have incalculable consequences for our region. Cuba expresses its deepest concern and denounces the U.S. military deployment in the Southern Caribbean Sea, and the threats, under false pretexts, against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This violates the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted in Havana in 2014, which we have the duty to defend for our peoples.

Your Excellencies,

Cuba and Italy pride themselves on a long-standing historical relationship, in which strong cultural, economic, and people-to-people ties have been built, benefiting from the fluid and respectful political dialogue between both countries.

Cooperation relations hold a special place. During the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, my country sent two medical brigades to the Lombardy and Piedmont regions. These experiences paved the way for the effective cooperation in health matters that currently takes place with several Italian regions.

For its part, Cuba has relied on Italy's assistance in executing projects in sectors prioritized for our economic and social development, as well as to mitigate the effects of natural phenomena that have severely impacted the country.

We thank again the Italian government, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the IILA for this important space for dialogue, with the aspiration that it may continue to contribute to the development of closer and more effective ties between the peoples of Italy and Latin America and the Caribbean. That is also Cuba's will.

Thank you very much.