U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday declaring a national emergency and authorizing tariffs on goods from countries that supply oil to Cuba, part of an expanded campaign to isolate Havana economically and politically amid ongoing efforts aimed at regime change.
Under the order, the United States may impose additional tariffs on imports from any country that directly or indirectly provides oil to Cuba, with rules and implementation details to be drawn up by the U.S. State and Commerce Departments. The measure is framed in the White House text as necessary to protect U.S. “national security and foreign policy” from what Washington describes as “malign actions and policies” by the Cuban government.
Cuba has been struggling with a deepening oil crisis since Venezuelan deliveries—historically its main source of fuel—effectively ceased in December amid a U.S. blockade and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Financial Times reporting estimates that Cuba has only around 15–20 days of oil reserves remaining at current consumption levels, sparking concerns about widespread disruption if imports do not resume.
Mexico, which has become a key alternative supplier, provided a shipment of roughly 84,900 barrels earlier this month, although future deliveries are uncertain amid concerns about possible repercussions from Washington. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has insisted that decisions on oil shipments are based on sovereign considerations, and not direct U.S. pressure, while also declining to confirm whether exports will continue.
Cuba previously depended heavily on Venezuela for oil under long-standing preferential arrangements, sometimes receiving around two-thirds of its needed supply. With the Venezuelan flow disrupted and Mexican deliveries fluctuating, the island’s energy infrastructure and basic services have experienced intensifying strain, including long blackouts and uncertainty over fuel for critical uses.
The tariff authority granted by the executive order does not automatically implement levies but enables U.S. officials to identify and penalize countries that continue providing fuel to Cuba. No specific tariff rates or target countries were detailed at the time of signing, and it remains unclear how the mechanism will be applied in practice.
The broader geopolitical backdrop includes Washington’s effort to expand influence in the region and to end longstanding ties between Havana and its traditional partners. Cuba’s leadership has criticized the measure, rejecting U.S. claims of authority to impose conditions on its external economic relations, framing the action as coercive and outside international norms.