Trump Threatens Tariffs On Countries Supplying Oil To Cuba

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he could impose new tariffs on any nation that supplies oil to Cuba, escalating economic pressure on the Communist-run island as part of a broader campaign against its government. The announcement came through an executive order declaring a national emergency, aimed at countering what the U.S. government described as threats posed by Havana’s policies. The order did not specify tariff rates or name particular countries that could be targeted.

Trump said the action was necessary to protect “U.S. national security and foreign policy from the Cuban regime’s malign actions and policies.” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected the reasoning as baseless, calling the move unjustified and accusing Washington of hostility. The measure comes amid a deepening energy crisis in Cuba after the U.S. cut off Venezuelan oil supplies and pressured other countries, like Mexico, not to continue shipments. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has said her government will seek diplomatic solutions and alternative ways to assist Cuba while stressing sovereign decision-making onoil exports.

Cuban officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, condemned the threats as coercive and in violation of international trade norms, arguing they would worsen the island’s economic hardships. Critics also warn that the tactics could prompt a humanitarian crisis by further restricting fuel supplies essential for electricity, transport and health services. Trump has used tariff threats as a foreign policy tool during his presidency, and this latest move underscores rising tensions between the United States and Cuba.