特朗普政府对古巴的制裁扩大波及外国矿业公司，澳大利亚上市公司Antilles Gold成为最新受害者。[1] 该公司旗下的古巴合资企业Minera La Victoria于6月初遭列入美国黑名单，导致公司随后被制裁。[1] 面对运营受阻，Antilles Gold已向美国国务院提交提案，计划向可接受的美国投资者出售其开曼群岛子公司至少51%的股份以求规避制裁。[1]
Antilles Gold在位于古巴中部Ciego De Avila东南约25公里处的Nueva Sabana铜金矿持有50%的股份。[1] 同样处于困境的加拿大矿业公司Sherritt International也面临类似压力，其潜在救助者是与特朗普关系密切的商人Ray Washburne所掌控的Gillon Capital。[1] Gillon Capital计划以May 15收盘价折扣收购Sherritt International 55%的股份，而该公司股价已从0.25美元跌至0.09美元。[1]
Ray Washburne是特朗普的长期共和党捐赠者，2016年曾被称为"特朗普在达拉斯最显眼的筹款人"，并在特朗普第一任期担任海外私人投资公司主席。[1] 美国国务院和财政部已为相关谈判扫清障碍，但最终协议仍需批准。[1] 美国国务卿Marco Rubio表示："每次他们想从绞索中逃脱，我们就关闭这个机制"。[1]
The Trump administration's expanded sanctions on Cuba have forced foreign mining companies operating on the island to restructure their ownership or cease operations. Australian-listed Antilles Gold found its Cuban joint venture blacklisted in early June, triggering sanctions that halted work at the Nueva Sabana copper-gold mine, located approximately 25 kilometers southeast of Ciego de Avila in central Cuba, where the company holds a 50% stake.[1] In response, Antilles Gold has submitted a proposal to the U.S. State Department seeking to sell at least 51% of its Cayman Islands subsidiary to an acceptable American investor to circumvent the restrictions.[1]
The company's predicament reflects a broader pressure campaign by Washington on foreign mining interests in Cuba. Gillon Capital, backed by Republican donor and former Trump administration official Ray Washburne, is pursuing a similar acquisition of 55% of Canadian mining firm Sherritt International at a steep discount, with Sherritt's stock price having plummeted from $0.25 to $0.09 per share.[1] Washburne, who served as chairman of the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation during Trump's first term and was identified in 2016 as "Trump's most prominent Dallas fundraiser," is spearheading the rescue effort.[1] The U.S. State Department and Treasury Department have begun removing obstacles to these negotiations, though final approval of any agreement remains pending.[1] Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the administration's hardline stance, stating: "Every time they want to slip the noose, we close that mechanism."[1]