President Trump threatens to impose tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that declares a national emergency and threatens to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba.

The order comes a couple of days after Mexico said it suspended oil shipments to Cuba in a "sovereign decision" not made under pressure from the U.S. even as Trump pushed Mexico to distance itself from the Cuban government.

Cuba has greatly relied on foreign assistance and oil shipments from allies such as Mexico, Russia and Venezuela amid an energy and economic crisis. But after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump said that Cuba would receive no more oil shipments from Venezuela.

The White House said in a fact-sheet on the executive order that it was intended to protect "U.S. national security and foreign policy from the Cuban regime’s malign actions and policies," citing its ties to Russia and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, along with the regime's persecution and alleged torture of its political opponents.

"These actions constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, requiring immediate response to protect American citizens and interests," the White House said.

The order did not specify what the tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, either directly or indirectly, would be, but authorizes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to do whatever is necessary to implement the tariff system.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.