US President Threatens Tariffs on Oil Suppliers to Cuba Amid Tensions with Havana
In a move aimed at bolstering pressure on the communist government in Cuba, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing a process for imposing tariffs on goods from countries providing oil to the island nation. The White House justifies this action by citing alleged ties between Cuba and hostile powers such as Russia, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
The new policy creates a national emergency and empowers the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against any country selling or providing oil to Cuba. However, Trump's administration has yet to specify the tariff rates for violating this policy.
Mexico, one of Cuba's major oil suppliers, is reportedly not willing to comply with the new US policy. Mexico's state-owned oil company, Pemex, will continue to fulfill contractual obligations with Havana and may offer humanitarian aid in the future, according to Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Sheinbaum. However, Pemex has temporarily paused shipments of oil to Cuba.
Mexico has been providing approximately 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba over most of last year. In comparison, Venezuela supplied around 70,000 daily barrels before US pressure forced Havana to sever ties with Caracas. This move comes as a significant blow to Cuba's economy, which is heavily reliant on imported oil due to limited domestic reserves.
Cuba currently has only 15 to 20 days' worth of oil in inventory, according to a report from the Financial Times. The island nation's economic situation remains dire following the loss of its principal supplier and the subsequent decline in tourist visits.
Trump's administration aims to topple the Cuban government through these economic pressures. In a statement, the White House characterized Cuba's alleged ties with hostile powers as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security and foreign policy.
In a move aimed at bolstering pressure on the communist government in Cuba, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing a process for imposing tariffs on goods from countries providing oil to the island nation. The White House justifies this action by citing alleged ties between Cuba and hostile powers such as Russia, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
The new policy creates a national emergency and empowers the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against any country selling or providing oil to Cuba. However, Trump's administration has yet to specify the tariff rates for violating this policy.
Mexico, one of Cuba's major oil suppliers, is reportedly not willing to comply with the new US policy. Mexico's state-owned oil company, Pemex, will continue to fulfill contractual obligations with Havana and may offer humanitarian aid in the future, according to Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Sheinbaum. However, Pemex has temporarily paused shipments of oil to Cuba.
Mexico has been providing approximately 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba over most of last year. In comparison, Venezuela supplied around 70,000 daily barrels before US pressure forced Havana to sever ties with Caracas. This move comes as a significant blow to Cuba's economy, which is heavily reliant on imported oil due to limited domestic reserves.
Cuba currently has only 15 to 20 days' worth of oil in inventory, according to a report from the Financial Times. The island nation's economic situation remains dire following the loss of its principal supplier and the subsequent decline in tourist visits.
Trump's administration aims to topple the Cuban government through these economic pressures. In a statement, the White House characterized Cuba's alleged ties with hostile powers as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security and foreign policy.
. So now the US is threatening tariffs on oil suppliers to Cuba just because they're friends with some other countries? That's just great diplomacy 
. And Mexico, of all people, is refusing to comply... what a betrayal 
. I mean, can't we just talk to them like civilized nations and find common ground? Instead, this whole thing feels like a big game of chicken 
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. They're basically at the mercy of whoever provides it to them. This is just another example of US imperialism at its finest 
. We're trying to strangle their economy and then act like we're doing it for our own good 
.
The Trump administration seems to think they can bully anyone into submission just because they have a big mouth 
. Newsflash: that's not how politics works 
... how can they say Cuba's got ties with Russia & Hamas when they're already doing the same thing in Ukraine? 
. I mean, what's next? A blockade on food or something? This just smells like a ploy to undermine Cuba's sovereignty & destabilize the region. We should be worried about the impact this has on global energy markets, not some politicians' ego trip 
This is such a worrying situation! 
Trump's move on Cuba seems like just another way to get under their skin, you know? 
I mean, who benefits from this whole thing? Not Cuba, that's for sure. They're already struggling with limited oil supplies and an economy on life support. And now Mexico's not even gonna comply with the new policy? 
... I mean, I get it that the US wants to put pressure on them but tariffs on oil? That's gonna hurt a lot of people 
. This is just another way of trying to control their government, but it's not gonna work 
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. Can't we find a way to support Cuba's people without messing with their economy? 
... Remember when Trump was just a businessman trying to get his hands on some Cuban oil? 
Anyway, I gotta say, this move by the White House is super weird. Cuba's economy is already struggling, and now they're gonna put more pressure on 'em? It's like they want to strangle the life outta that island nation 
. it's like, trump's trying to put more pressure on the cuban gov't, but what's next? a total economic blockade? that would be devastating for innocent ppl who just wanna survive 
and mexico not even wanting to comply is a big deal fam 
so yeah this whole thing is super sketchy, but i guess it's what you'd expect from trump 
. Cuba's got 15-20 days of oil left, that's not exactly a lot 
. Can't the US just chill for once? This whole thing is just a mess, and Trump's just trying to stir up drama 
