哈瓦那，9月29日——古巴高级贸易官员否认了有关与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普有关联的公司今年前往古巴洽谈业务的报道，并称美国的贸易禁令是阻碍古巴推行历史性自由市场改革的最大障碍。
HAVANA, Sept 29 - Cuba's top trade official dismissed reports that companies linked to US President Donald Trump had come to Cuba this year to talk business, while calling the US trade embargo the biggest impediment to the roll-out of historic free-market reforms.
古巴外贸部长兼副总理奥斯卡·佩雷斯-奥利瓦·弗拉加表示，他本人及任何其他古巴官员都未与特朗普相关企业的代表会面。
Cuban foreign trade and deputy prime minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga said neither he nor any other Cuban official had met with representatives from Trump-tied businesses.
“据我所知，没有任何与特朗普直接有关联的公司与古巴有过接触，”佩雷斯-奥利瓦在哈瓦那九层楼的办公室里接受路透社采访时说。该办公室正对着佛罗里达海峡。
"I have no knowledge of any company directly linked to President Trump having made contact with Cuba," Perez-Oliva told Reuters in a wide-ranging interview in his ninth-story Havana office, fronting the Straits of Florida.
在特朗普政府不断增加的压力下（包括重新实施的制裁措施，这些制裁对古巴经济造成了严重影响），古巴于6月推出了前所未有的自由市场改革措施。如果这些改革能够全面实施，这将是自前总统菲德尔·卡斯特罗1959年执政以来古巴社会主义经济发生的最大变革。
Under increased pressure from the Trump administration, including renewed sanctions that have hit its economy hard, Cuba in June unveiled unprecedented free-market reforms that, if fully implemented, would represent the biggest change to the island's socialist economy since former president Fidel Castro took control in 1959.
然而佩雷斯-奥利瓦指出，要想取得进一步进展，华盛顿必须放宽制裁措施。目前，美国对古巴实施了石油封锁，几乎切断了古巴从墨西哥、委内瑞拉等传统燃料供应国的进口渠道。
But, said Perez-Oliva, to make further progress, Washington must ease up on the sanctions, which include an oil blockade imposed in January that all but eliminated imports from Mexico, Venezuela and other former top fuel suppliers.
“我们的政策并不禁止美国公司在古巴投资、与古巴进行贸易或开展任何形式的商业活动，”佩雷斯-奥利瓦说，“阻碍这些行为的根本原因是贸易禁令的存在。”华盛顿方面认为古巴的改革还不够彻底，并呼吁古巴举行“自由公正”的选举。
"It is not our policy to prohibit US companies from investing in Cuba, trading with Cuba, or conducting business of any kind with Cuba," Perez-Oliva said. "What prevents this possibility is the existence of the trade embargo." Washington says the island's reforms do not go far enough and has called for "free and fair" elections.
多年来，特朗普的关联人士一直被牵涉到古巴的潜在商业机会中。据路透社看到的会议记录显示，2016年，特朗普的商业伙伴曾访问古巴并与当地旅游部门的高层官员会面，讨论相关合作机会。
Trump associates have been linked with potential business opportunities in Cuba over the years. In 2016, Trump's business associates visited Cuba and met with top tourism officials to discuss opportunities, according to minutes viewed by Reuters of those meetings.
佩雷斯-奥利瓦告诉路透社，特朗普政府的政策使古巴经济的某些领域偏向了美国投资者。"一方面，国际公司——古巴在全球的传统合作伙伴——正受到威胁和施压，被迫停止与我国的经济和商业往来，"他说。"另一方面，则在竭力推动美国公司的活动。"他指着美国国务院的一项政策，该政策允许美国公司向古巴私营部门出口燃料，他批评这是企图让古巴重回殖民时代对美国的依赖。"
PLAYING FAVORITES Trump administration policies have skewed some sectors of Cuba's economy in favor of US investors, Perez-Oliva told Reuters. "On the one hand, international companies — Cuba's traditional partners worldwide — are being threatened and urged to halt economic and commercial relations with our country," he said. "On the other, efforts are being made to boost the activities of US companies." He pointed to a US State department policy that has allowed US companies to export fuel to the Cuban private sector, which he criticized as an effort to attempt to return Cuba to colonial-era dependence on the United States.
(该政策)旨在强迫古巴在经济上依附，"佩雷斯-奥利瓦说，他的外祖母安吉拉·卡斯特罗是古巴前主席菲德尔·卡斯特罗的姐姐。"我们绝不会再成为任何国家的殖民地。"尽管面临严重的经济困难，且特朗普多次承诺古巴政府即将垮台，但古巴政府几乎没有显示出崩溃的迹象。未来展望 僵局让各国投资者进退维谷，佩雷斯-奥利瓦说。
"(The policy) is aimed at forcing Cuba's economic dependence," said Perez-Oliva, whose maternal grandmother, Angela Castro, was an elder sister of former Cuban president Fidel Castro. "We will never again be a colony of any country." Cuba's government has shown little sign of crumbling, despite severe economic hardship and Trump's repeated promises it would soon collapse. WHAT'S NEXT The stalemate has left investors of all nationalities in the lurch, Perez-Oliva said.
加拿大的雪莱特国际公司在特朗普政府5月发布一项威胁对在古巴从事采矿相关业务的企业实施制裁的行政命令后，暂停了直接参与与古巴政府的镍钴采矿合资项目。
Canada's Sherritt International suspended direct participation in a nickel and cobalt mining joint venture with the Cuban government following a Trump administration executive order in May that threatened sanctions on mining-related businesses in Cuba.
澳大利亚的安蒂利斯黄金公司在古巴拥有一座铜金矿，据部长透露，该公司也在考虑下一步行动。
Australia's Antilles Gold, which holds a copper and gold mine in Cuba, is also considering its next move, the minister said.
据媒体报道，美国投资者对这两家公司都表现出了兴趣，但尚未获得豁免美国制裁的许可。"安蒂利斯黄金公司和雪莱特国际公司均未(从古巴)撤资，"佩雷斯-奥利瓦说。"鉴于这些制裁，这些公司正在评估替代方案，以确定如何继续运营。"安蒂利斯黄金公司和雪莱特国际公司均未立即回应置评请求。佩雷斯-奥利瓦表示，他将继续致力于改善古巴经济和吸引外资。
US investors have shown interest in both companies but have yet to receive permits exempting them from US sanctions, according to media reports. "Neither Antilles Gold nor Sherritt has withdrawn (from Cuba)," Perez-Oliva said. "In light of these sanctions, these companies are evaluating alternatives to determine how to continue their operations." Neither Antilles Gold nor Sherritt immediately responded to requests for comment. Perez-Oliva said he would keep working to improve Cuba's economy and attract foreign investment.
这位55岁的官员驳斥了关于他被培养为古巴下一任主席的持续传闻。
The 55-year-old dismissed persistent rumors that he was being groomed as Cuba's next president.
“在这方面，我没有任何抱负，”佩雷斯-奥利瓦说，“我只是一个公务员，无论在哪里需要我的帮助，我都会去工作，而不会追求任何特定的职位。”——路透社（Reuters）
"I have no aspirations in that regard," Perez-Oliva said. "I am simply a public servant, and I will work wherever I am needed, without aspiring to any particular position." REUTERS