UK condemns U.S. application of Cuba sanctions to foreign companies

The U.S. flag is seen in front of an apartment building, outside the embassy of the United States (not pictured), in Havana, Cuba April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando Medina

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said it was concerned by new attempts by the United States to require foreign companies to abide by U.S. sanctions on Cuba that have been rejected by Britain and other European countries.

"The extraterritorial application of ... sanctions, which we consider to be illegal under international law, threaten to harm UK and EU companies doing legitimate business in Cuba by exposing them to liability in U.S. courts," Britain's foreign office said in a statement on Thursday.