Trump signs executive order threatening tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order warning of fresh tariffs against countries supplying oil to Cuba stepping up economic pressure on the communist island nationAccording to the order issued by the White House An additional ad valorem estimated value duty may be imposed on imports of goods that are products of a foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to CubaIssued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act the directive labels the Cuban government an extraordinary threat to US national security alleging that The regime aligns itself with and provides support for numerous hostile countries transnational terrorist groups and malign actors adverse to the United States including Russia China and Iran along with Hamas and HezbollahAmid this escalating pressure Mexico has temporarily suspended oil shipments to Cuba Al Jazeera reported as Trump seeks to further isolate HavanaMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the move was a sovereign decision and not the result of US pressureAddressing reporters she said It is a sovereign decision and it is made in the moment when necessaryAsked whether supplies would resume she replied In any case it will be reported while stressing Mexico would continue to show solidarity with CubaThe suspension carries significant implications for Cubas energy securityAccording to Al Jazeera Mexico and Venezuela had been supplying most of Cubas oil but Venezuelan crude stopped after former President Nicolas Maduro was captured in a military operation and taken to the US on January 3Until last month Mexico accounted for 44 per cent of Cubas oil imports Venezuela 33 percent and Russia about 10 per cent with smaller volumes from AlgeriaMexicos state oil firm Pemex said it shipped nearly 20000 barrels per day to Cuba between January and September 30 2025 making Mexico a critical though limited lifeline after Venezuela went offlineTrump has since hardened his stance toward Havana writing on Truth Social on January 11 THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA ZERO I strongly suggest they make a deal BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE adding Cuba lived for many years on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from VenezuelaDuring a visit to Iowa he said Cuba is really a nation thats very close to failingCuban President Miguel DiazCanel rejected pressure from Washington saying We have always been willing to maintain serious and responsible dialogue with the various US administrations including the current one on the basis of sovereign equality mutual respect and the principles of international lawAs tensions mount Al Jazeera reported that a Cuban diplomat in Bogota accused Washington of international piracy over efforts to block Venezuelan oil shipmentsThe US is carrying out international piracy in the Caribbean Sea that is restricting and blocking the arrival of oil to Cuba Carlos de Cespedes said adding that Havana is facing stronger US threats than at any point in the 67 years since the revolutionUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the government in Havana as a huge problem while Trump has publicly suggested Rubio could one day lead Cuba writing Sounds good to meRelations between Havana and Washington remain deeply strained despite a brief thaw in 2014 that Trump reversed during his first term by reimposing sanctions and banning cruise ships in 2019Al Jazeera reported that Cuba is now facing its worst economic crisis since 1959 driven by fuel shortages power cuts and disruptions to food and water suppliesConditions could worsen as Mexican and Venezuelan oil flows dry up while rising tensions with the US have slashed tourism by nearly 70 per cent since 2018 cutting income that once reached up to USD 3 billion annuallyMexico meanwhile is negotiating a trade agreement with Washington amid tariff threats as Trump increases demands on Mexico over drug cartels further complicating Mexicos efforts to balance longstanding ties with Cuba against growing US pressureThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever