Trump threatens tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba
CBSN
President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis. In:
President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis.
The order would primarily put pressure on Mexico, a government that has acted as an oil lifeline for Cuba and has constantly voiced solidarity for the U.S. adversary, even as President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to build a strong relationship with Mr. Trump.
This week has been marked by speculation that Mexico would slash oil shipments to Cuba under mounting pressure by Mr. Trump to distance itself from the Cuban government.
In its deepening energy and economic crisis — fueled in part by strict economic sanctions by the U.S. — Cuba has relied heavily on foreign assistance and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia and Venezuela, before a U.S. military operation ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Since the Venezuela operation, Mr. Trump has said that no more Venezuelan oil will go to Cuba and that the Cuban government is "ready to fall."
