North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has sent a letter congratulating the President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Reta Jo Lewis, for denying an $800 million loan to Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) due to the Mexican government's policy of supplying free fuel to the Cuban regime.

With Mexico sending free oil to Cuba, they are directly financing the Cuban dictatorship's oppression of its people.

"El Presidente de México está utilizando a Pemex como una organización benéfica para dictadores," wrote Representative Salazar. "This decision by the Export-Import Bank is an example for the rest of the United States government on how to defend human rights in our hemisphere. It's a relief to see that at least one agency is still interested in enforcing U.S. law against the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime."

Since taking office in 2018, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has shown a complacent attitude towards the Cuban regime. In addition to welcoming Miguel Díaz-Canel in 2021 and hosting trafficked Cuban doctors, the AMLO government has also committed to sending free fuel to sustain the regime.

Estimates for this year show that the Mexican government will send over $200 million worth of free fuel to Havana. While PEMEX is at risk of bankruptcy, the AMLO government prioritizes rescuing communist dictatorships over solvency. This threatens to turn PEMEX into the next PDVSA, the bankrupt state-owned oil company owned by the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

To counter pro-Cuba economic offers abroad, the Export-Import Bank made the decision to cancel $800 million in loans to PEMEX. Though it is a commendable move by the Export-Import Bank's Board of Directors, the Biden Administration must remain vigilant.

The Mexican government has stated that it is considering selling fuel to the Cuban regime instead of donating it. Any contribution from the U.S. government to entities doing business with the Cuban regime violates the Helms-Burton Act (LIBERTAD Act).

To view the full text of the letter in English, click HERE.

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Click this link to access more information: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresista-salazar-elogia-accion-para-detener-suministro-gratuito-de