Washington, October 18 (RHC)—Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that new measures announced on Friday by the US Commerce Department against the island are an expression of impotence, moral degradation, and imperial contempt.

In a post on Twitter, he described the measures as an inhuman, cruel, unjust, and genocidal act that the island strongly rejects.

“We will not surrender, and we will give a sovereign response,” he stressed.

As part of a string of sanctions of the Donald Trump has been implementing against the island, over the last months, the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced new amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which aim to further restrict exports and re-exports of goods to Cuba.

These measures will enter into force on October 21, 2019.

The main provisions include the establishment of a general policy of denial of licenses for the leasing of aircraft to Cuban state-owned airlines; clarify that airplanes and vessels are not eligible for the License Exception Aircraft and Vessels (AVS) if they are leased to or chartered by a national of Cuba; and revise License Exception Support for the Cuban People (SCP) to make the Cuban government and communist party ineligible for specific donations, among others.

The pretexts cited by the Department of Commerce for the imposition of the new measures are based on the alleged repression of the Cuban people by the government and its support for Maduro's government in Venezuela.

“The measures announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce are additional acts of economic blockade, representative of a policy of moral bankruptcy, internationally isolated and promoted by a corrupt government,” Cuban Foreign minister said in a post on Twitter.  ¨The Cuban people will continue to give a due and sovereign response,” the minister added.