Shippers Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM Suspend Cuba Bookings After US Executive Order

By Gus Trompiz, Christoph Steitz and Dave Sherwood

PARIS/FRANKFURT/HAVANA, May 17 (Reuters) – Shipping giants CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd HLAG.DE said on Sunday they had suspended all bookings to and from Cuba until further notice, with both citing a U.S. executive order issued on May 1, in the latest blow to the crisis-wracked island’s economy. 

The temporary suspension of new orders by two of the world’s largest shipping companies could jeopardize as much as 60% of Cuba’s shipping traffic by volume, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation said – a fresh hit to a country already nearing collapse amid a U.S. oil blockade that has throttled the island’s fuel supply.

“Following