Trump Threatens Tariffs On Countries Supplying Oil To Cuba

Trump Threatens Tariffs On Countries Supplying Oil To Cuba

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on countries and groups that do business with Cuba or supply the island with oil, sharply escalating US pressure on the communist government.

In an executive order signed Thursday, Trump declared a “national emergency” and created a new tariff framework targeting foreign entities that “directly or indirectly” provide oil to Cuba. The order opens the door for additional import duties on goods from those countries.

Potential targets include Russia, China and Iran, along with militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The United States maintains trade relationships with several of the named countries, including China and Russia, while Hezbollah is based in Lebanon.

“Under this system, an additional ad valorem 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 Cuba,” Trump wrote.

He said the tariff system was “necessary and appropriate” to address what he described as a national emergency linked to Cuba’s economic and political ties.

The order gives the US commerce secretary, in consultation with the secretary of state, the authority to determine whether a foreign country is supplying oil to Cuba and should therefore face penalties.

The move comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana following the US-backed removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said his government is not engaged in talks with the Trump administration.

Separately, Trump also threatened a 50% tariff on Canadian aircraft if Canada blocks the sale of Gulfstream jets. He said the US would decertify Bombardier Global Express aircraft and all Canadian-made planes.

Those remarks add to growing trade tensions between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, alongside Trump’s renewed push on Greenland and broader disputes over global trade.

The legality of Trump’s use of national emergency powers to impose tariffs is currently under review by the US Supreme Court.

Key Takeaways

• Trump declared a “national emergency” to justify new tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.

• Potential targets include Russia, China and Iran, with penalties tied to trade with the US.

• The move marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s pressure on Havana and its allies.

SOURCE: THE HILL