By MICHELLE L. PRICE and MEGAN JANETSKY, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an government order that may impose a tariff on any items from nations that promote or present oil to Cuba, a transfer that would additional cripple an island suffering from a deepening vitality disaster.
The order would primarily put stress on Mexico, a authorities that has acted as an oil lifeline for Cuba and has consistently voiced solidarity for the U.S. adversary whilst President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to construct a powerful relationship with Trump.
This week has been marked by hypothesis that Mexico would slash oil shipments to Cuba below mounting stress by Trump to distance itself from the Cuban authorities.
Drivers wait in line to replenish at a gasoline station in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photograph/Ramon Espinosa)
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Drivers wait in line to replenish at a gasoline station in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photograph/Ramon Espinosa)
In its deepening vitality and financial disaster – fueled partly by strict financial sanctions by the U.S. – Cuba has relied closely on international help and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia and Venezuela, earlier than a U.S. army operation ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. For the reason that Venezuela operation, Trump has stated that no extra Venezuelan oil will go to Cuba and that the Cuban authorities is able to fall.
In its most up-to-date report, Pemex stated it shipped practically 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba from January by Sept. 30, 2025. That month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mexico Metropolis. Afterward, Jorge Piñon, an skilled on the College of Texas Vitality Institute who tracks shipments utilizing satellite tv for pc know-how, stated the determine had fallen to about 7,000 barrels.
Sheinbaum has been extremely obscure about the place her nation stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous solutions to inquiries in regards to the shipments, and dodged reporters questions in her morning press briefings.
On Tuesday, Sheinbaum stated that Mexico’s state oil firm, PEMEX, had at least briefly paused some oil shipments to Cuba, however struck an ambiguous tone, saying the pause was a part of normal fluctuations in oil provides and that it was a “sovereign choice” not made below stress from america. Sheinbaum has stated that Mexico would proceed to indicate solidarity with Havana, however didn’t make clear what sort of assist Mexico would supply.
On Wednesday, the Latin American chief claimed she by no means stated that Mexico has utterly “suspended” shipments and that “humanitarian support” to Cuba would proceed and that selections about shipments to Cuba have been decided by PEMEX contracts.
“So the contract determines when shipments are despatched and when they aren’t despatched,” Sheinbaum stated.
The shortage of readability from the chief has underscored the acute stress Mexico and different Latin American nations are below as Trump has grown extra confrontational following the Venezuelan operation.
It stays unclear what the Thursday order by Trump will imply for Cuba, which has been roiled by disaster for years and a U.S. embargo. Anxieties have been already simmering on the Caribbean island as many drivers sat in lengthy strains this week for gasoline, many not sure of what would come subsequent.
Janetsky reported from Mexico Metropolis.
