To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government has made to the US authorities on the impact on UK tourists and businesses of the expansion of extra-territorial financial measures against Cuba. (134653)

The European Commission has responsibility within the European Community for dealing with extraterritorial measures taken by third countries against EU member states. Council regulation EC2271/96 (the ‘EU blocking statute’) was introduced by the EU in 1996 to offer protection to EU individuals and companies against certain specific extraterritorial legislation, including the US Helms/Burton Act which applies sanctions against Cuba.

My officials are in discussion with the European Commission in relation to recent cases of US extraterritoriality in the context of UK trade with Cuba, and the commission is considering how best to take these issues forward.