US authorizes sale of Dominican-made Cohiba cigars

LA HABANA. Cuba considers it to be "outright thievery." This is the decision of a United States commission that allows a United States firm to sell the emblematic Cohiba cigars, but made in the Dominican Republic.

The island reacted against the latest decision of a 16 year legal battle against the General Cigar Company, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and a subsidiary of Swedish Match AB, which sells the famous cigars in the United States market.

"This outright theft of Cuban brands in the United States continues to be backed by federal authorities in that country, who hid behind the spurious regulations of the economic, financial and commercial blockade that Washington carries out against Cuba," said the official Cubadebate website.

This week, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States rejected the request by Cubatobaco to cancel the use of the brand name by the United States firm.

According to the Board, "the courts decreed that Cubatobaco cannot sell their cigars in the United States" and "lacks judicial standing to litigate in this country for the Cohiba brand," said Cubadebate.