“An additional ‘ad valorem’ tariff (according to value) may be imposed on imports of goods that are products of a foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or provides any type of oil to Cuba,” indicates the text published by the White House.
This decision, intended to further increase pressure on Havana, is supported by the declaration of a “state of emergency” in relation to the “exceptional threat” that Cuba represents to US national security, according to this decree.
Washington reproaches the Cuban authorities for “aligning with and supporting numerous countries, international terrorist organizations and actors hostile to the United States,” including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Cuba is also targeted in the executive order for “destabilizing the region through immigration and violence,” while “propagating its communist ideas, programs and practices.”
The US president had already recently warned Havana that there would be no “more oil” for Cuba without an “agreement” with the authorities.
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a military raid, Trump placed Venezuela’s oil sector, which since the 2000s has been Cuba’s main oil supplier, under US control.
The new threat from the Republican leader comes when the island is already going through a precarious energy situation.
Cuba, subject to a United States embargo since 1962, has been experiencing fuel shortages for three years that have a direct impact on its electricity production.
