US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing additional tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, further tightening economic pressure on the Caribbean island.
The order, issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, declares the Cuban government an “extraordinary threat” to US national security.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez strongly condemned the move, describing it as a “brutal act of aggression” against the Cuban people.
“We denounce to the world this brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people, who for more than 65 years have been subjected to the longest and cruelest economic blockade ever imposed on an entire nation and who are now guaranteed to be subjected to extreme living conditions,” Rodriguez wrote on social media.
The decision is expected to worsen Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis, as the country has suffered severe fuel shortages in recent years, leading to frequent power outages and disruptions to its electricity grid.
Cuba has been under a US economic embargo since 1962 and has relied heavily on oil shipments from allies such as Venezuela, Mexico, and Russia. However, supplies from Venezuela have reportedly ceased, with President Trump stating that no more Venezuelan oil will be allowed to reach Cuba.
Trump also claimed that the Cuban government is on the verge of collapse.
Pressure on Mexico
The executive order is likely to place significant pressure on Mexico, which remains one of the few countries still supplying energy to Cuba.
Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Pemex, previously reported shipping nearly 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba between January and September 2025. However, industry analysts estimate that shipments may have dropped to around 7,000 barrels per day.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied reports that oil shipments to Havana have been halted. While reaffirming Mexico’s solidarity with Cuba, she has not clarified what form future support may take.
