The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added the Grupo Empresarial de Transporte Marítimo Portuario (GEMAR), parent company of Coral Marítima S.A., to its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN). This move targets the company that has recently taken control of the Mariel Container Terminal.
This sanction is part of a new wave of punitive measures against ten Cuban entities, announced by Washington on the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests.
The sanction comes just two weeks after the Cuban regime reshuffled the management of the nation's primary port terminal. This change occurred following sanctions imposed on June 23 against Almacenes Universales S.A. (AUSA), a subsidiary of GAESA that previously operated the terminal within the Mariel Special Development Zone.
The transfer was formalized on July 1, with Coral Marítima S.A., a company affiliated with GEMAR, taking command of the facility through its subsidiary, Terminales Portuarias CORAL S.A.
On June 25, Yamile Barrios San Martín, the commercial director of TC Mariel, informed clients of the operation through an official letter. "The company Terminal de Contenedores Mariel S.A. has sold its assets to the Cuban commercial entity Coral Marítima S.A., which established the Subsidiary Terminales Portuarias CORAL S.A. to manage the business previously conducted by TC Mariel," the document read.
Analysts viewed this shift in operators as an attempt to keep the terminal functioning despite AUSA's sanctions. Economist Miguel Alejandro Hayes suggested that the regime might dismantle formal business structures to replace them with others that continue to perform the same roles. GEMAR's inclusion on OFAC's list now affects the state-run company overseeing the terminal.
The State Department's release describes GEMAR as "a Cuban state entity with a significant presence in the maritime sector," sanctioned due to its ownership or control by the Cuban government.
The subsidiary managing the Mariel Container Terminal operates the country's main logistical infrastructure, through which about 85% of Cuba's imports pass.
Broader Sanction Measures
In addition to GEMAR, the United States also sanctioned the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), the Grupo Empresarial del Comercio Exterior (GECOMEX), OSDE Caudal S.A., the Rapid Response Brigades, the Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC) on Monday.
The list also includes ANTEX S.A., linked to GAESA, which the State Department claims is involved in the "export of forced Cuban labor to Angola."
Completing the new designations are energy companies COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A., noted for their operations in the import and export of fuels, a sector deemed strategic for the Cuban economy.
The sanctions are enacted under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026. Since then, Washington has progressively tightened restrictions against entities connected to the regime's economic and security apparatus, including GAESA, MININT, MINFAR, CUPET, and ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel.
In unveiling these latest measures, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. administration's stance: "The United States will continue to use all available tools to address the national security threats posed by the Cuban communist regime and to promote economic and political reforms that offer Cuba a better future."
Understanding the U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Entities
What is the U.S. Treasury Department's SDN list?
The Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list is maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It includes individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific.
Why was GEMAR added to the SDN list?
GEMAR was added to the SDN list because it is a state-owned entity in Cuba with significant involvement in the maritime sector, which the U.S. government believes is under the control of the Cuban regime. This designation is part of broader sanctions aimed at pressuring the Cuban government.
What impact do these sanctions have on GEMAR and other Cuban entities?
Sanctions on GEMAR and other Cuban entities restrict their ability to engage in transactions with U.S. individuals and businesses. This can limit their access to the global financial system, complicate their business operations, and increase pressure on the Cuban economy.