51–60 of 109 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
But the article states the problem are the funds are going to a US bank. If believed, she could just have the funds go to a Canadian bank and the problem is solved. Doesn’t really have anything to do with Square.
The article specifically states the issue is on Square’s side with their (Square) using JP Morgan Chase.
Square screwed up!
Mustelier is Canadian and says she has no idea why a U.S. embargo is affecting her Canadian business. The article claims her money is going through a US bank. Not surprised this happened at all.
Some other commenters have already linked the relevant Canadian law that is broken by the stopped payment: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-92-584/p... .
Square says it's "working on" getting Mustelier her money back. I feel like, at this point, they ought to simply pay her out of their own pocket. They were the ones who put her money in a bank that was not fit for purpose. Even if they didn't realize this would happen, they've violated their obligation to her, and they need to fix it now, not after a few more months of wrangling.
The fact that they’re “working on it” should be a strong hint that it is not as simple as writing the merchant a check and wiping their hands of the situation. As a US financial entity, Square is subject to the same laws and regulations as JP Morgan, the bank holding on to the frozen funds.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
And it's beyond time Cuba end it's 2 ounce coffee rations every 15 days for Cuban citizens. That wouldn't last me 15 minutes. per Wiki: "Domestic distribution is currently limited to two ounces of coffee rations every 15 days for Cuban citizens.[13]
They have rations to make it accessible to all, they are a poor country crippled by a long lasting embargo. Cubans are very sweet people. Their politics attempted to keep they away from american greedy companies. Just look around the caraibean region. Countries that played ball with the US are in a very bad shape, a la economic hit man and such. Cuba managed to keep the people poor but with dignity, education, health…
For example: How do you expect trade resulting from an end to the embargo would be handled differently, and how would Cuba be less susceptible to the relative economic dependence on the US that affects many other countries in the region?
The vendor claims to buy beans from a Canadian distributor. It's not immediately obvious how to get from "bought beans in Montreal, sold Coffee in Toronto" to "funds frozen for doing business with Cuba." The devil must be in the details of the embargo.
Once something gets flagged as a potential violation, it turns into a guilty until proven innocent situation. Square has much more to lose than just some bad PR or the spread on $14K so they’re fine with freezing the money until they get a clear ruling from the US regulators that could put them in a proverbially vice. The name “Havana” probably tipped off something and now it’ll be stuck like that until a high enough…
> "I was kind of shocked and mad, because we're a Canadian company using Cuban goods bought and sold in Canada," Using an American payment company and an American bank, both of which are subject to American laws and aren't going to risk breaking a trade embargo, regardless of whether this particular case is 100% legal or not. Also not sure why the headline says Square Canada when the article makes it clear that it is…
It is illegal for a Canadian company, in Canada, to be subject to or comply with American extraterritoriality laws surrounding Cuba. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-92-584/p...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The fact that they’re “working on it” should be a strong hint that it is not as simple as writing the merchant a check and wiping their hands of the situation. As a US financial entity, Square is subject to the same laws and regulations as JP Morgan, the bank holding on to the frozen funds.
By operating in Canada, Square Canada is subject to Canadian federal law: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-92-584/p... .
If you believe you have a general solution to the problem of incompatible edge cases in international financial regulation, there are many, many companies who would be willing to make you a very rich person in exchange for that information.
Running all transactions through companies subject to foreign laws makes you subject to those foreign laws. And there is no reason US laws should affect e.g. a Canadian in Canada doing business in Canada with other Canadians.
The current situation is extremely unjust, because as German in Germany interacting with other Germans, I'm suddenly subject to US laws on which I can't even vote. Being subject to laws which I can't influence in any way democratically is unacceptable, and needs to end.
Either we as society should go back to cash, build our own payment systems to replace the US-based solutions, or end the US hegemony that even allows the US to spread its laws this way.
I used to (nearly 20 years ago) roast coffee in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Canada, and folks from Alaska would often stop in the shop. People that bought Cuban coffee often requested it be rebagged and just labelled “coffee” for about the same reason.
Hey I just stopped in at midnight sun coffee roasters for the first time last week. Good place.