Odebrecht Construction on June 5 filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida over its new law that bars the awarding of public contracts to firms that have business interests in Cuba or Syria. Widely viewed as a specific target of the new state law, the Coral Gables, Fla.-based contractor asserts that the act is unconstitutional because it conflicts with federal law and attempts to enact foreign policy.
The Brazilian-owned company issued a public statement that read, in part: “The law targets U.S. companies (such as Odebrecht USA) that have foreign affiliates operating in Cuba. We strongly believe that this new Florida law violates the United States Constitution.”