Trump Authorizes Tariffs on Countries Supplying Oil to Cuba
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a significant step to increase pressure on Cuba's communist government by authorizing his administration to impose tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to the island nation. This executive order represents a tightening of the economic squeeze on Havana, reflecting Trump's longstanding desire to see the Cuban regime replaced.
Executive Order Details and Rationale
Trump signed an executive order that will first identify which nations are supplying Cuba with petroleum products, then determine what additional export duties should be imposed on goods from those countries. In the order, Trump wrote that "The Government of Cuba has taken extraordinary actions that harm and threaten the United States" and that "The regime aligns itself with — and provides support for — numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States."
The move comes just hours after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described a "cordial" conversation with Trump that focused on trade matters but notably didn't address Cuba policy. Sheinbaum's office declined immediate comment on Trump's announcement but indicated she would address the issue at her next press conference scheduled for Friday morning.
Mexico Emerges as Primary Target
Mexico has become a central focus of this new policy, having emerged as one of Cuba's only remaining foreign fuel suppliers in recent years. This shift occurred as Venezuelan shipments to Cuba declined dramatically amid that South American nation's ongoing economic crisis.
Francisco Monaldi, an energy expert at Rice University, explained the implications: "This is mostly to deter Mexico from selling oil to Cuba. This is a massive blow to Cuba that will push that island very quickly into a very dire situation."
Earlier this month, Mexico appeared to backtrack on plans to send a crude shipment to Cuba, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg News. The Mexican foreign ministry didn't respond to questions about Trump's order, while the economy ministry declined to comment.
Broader Implications for U.S.-Mexico Relations
Trump's latest threat places Mexico, the United States' top trade partner, in a difficult position once again. The timing is particularly sensitive as the two neighbors, along with Canada, are set to review the CUSMA regional trade pact later this year. This review carries major implications for Mexico's export-driven economy.
European diplomats have expressed concern that Cuba could face a humanitarian crisis if Trump continues to starve it of fuel supplies. Oil shipments to Cuba have already been curtailed since the operation to capture Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, and the Trump administration's subsequent insistence that Venezuela's interim government cease providing energy support to Havana.
Trump's Public Statements on Cuba Policy
Trump has been vocal about his intentions regarding Cuba's energy supplies. In a social media post earlier this month, he declared: "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!" He urged the island's leadership to "make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."
The executive order represents an escalation of Trump's longstanding opposition to the Cuban government and his willingness to use trade policy as leverage against nations that maintain economic relationships with Havana. As Mexico navigates this new pressure, the implications for Cuba's already strained energy supplies appear increasingly dire.
