U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified economic pressure on Cuba by threatening new tariffs on nations supplying oil to the island, according to an executive order issued this week under a national emergency declaration. The move, announced on January 30, 2026, marks the latest escalation in Washington's ongoing campaign to isolate Havana.
While specific tariff rates remain undefined, the order broadly targets foreign energy suppliers to Cuba. This comes as Trump claims Venezuela – historically responsible for over one-third of Cuba's oil imports – has ceased shipments to the island. Energy analysts confirm a significant reduction in Venezuelan exports to Cuba since 2025.
The Trump administration has increasingly utilized tariffs as a foreign policy tool during its second term, with this latest measure raising concerns among international trade observers. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized the move this month, stating Washington lacks moral authority to dictate terms to Havana.
Market analysts suggest the tariff threat could disrupt regional energy markets while further straining Cuba's struggling economy. The development comes amid heightened U.S. scrutiny of Caribbean energy networks and renewed debates about the effectiveness of economic sanctions as diplomatic leverage.
