Trump Declares National Emergency Over Cuba, Targets Global Oil Suppliers With New Tariff Threats
On April 5, 2025, President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency regarding Cuba, setting in motion an executive order that could bring sweeping tariffs on any nations exporting oil to the communist island. This decisive move comes after months of rising tensions and represents a significant increase in economic pressure on the Cuban government.
President Trump justified his actions by citing Cuba’s ongoing repression of dissent, support for anti-American regimes, and its role in regional instability. By invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act (NEA), he aims to establish a strong economic crackdown.
A senior administration memorandum outlines that the executive order enables the Departments of Treasury and Commerce to identify shipments and companies in the Cuban oil trade. The proposed tariffs could soar beyond 100%, targeting not just the Cuban government but also third-party nations and corporations supplying oil to Cuba.
Senator Marco Rubio, known for advocating stronger measures against Havana, has reportedly influenced this policy. One of Trump’s political allies tweeted, “Trump and Marco are coming, Cuba!” signaling support for the tougher stance.
“We will no longer allow hostile regimes just 90 miles off our coast to get a free ride while suppressing their people and working against U.S. interests,” Trump stated at a White House briefing. “The era of appeasement is over.”
This new initiative builds on previous executive actions that reversed the Obama and Biden administrations’ policies easing travel and remittances to Cuba. Upon taking office, Trump reinstated Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, thereby initiating extensive trade restrictions. The latest emergency declaration frames the situation as a broader global supply chain threat, particularly affecting vital energy markets.
Under this new framework, any foreign country shipping oil or refined petroleum products to Cuba, even indirectly, could face targeted tariffs or export controls on their goods headed to the U.S. Early indications suggest that Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico may be among the first targets of this policy. European firms involved in Caribbean bunkering operations might also be affected.
The reasoning behind this approach stems from both economic and national security concerns. A senior Commerce Department official reported that Cuba imports around 70,000 barrels of oil per day, primarily through subsidized or concessionary deals with hostile nations. “Much of this supply chain benefits from globally integrated shipping and refueling networks,” the official noted. “That ends today.”
Officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative confirmed that these tariffs fit within the broader America First Trade Policy framework. This policy has already seen the implementation of a 10% base import tariff as of April 5, with higher specific tariffs starting April 9. The Cuban oil measure will expand on this list of targeted economic actions against nations with adversarial policies.
Supporters of the tariffs argue that nations importing into the U.S. while aiding regimes like Cuba should not receive preferential treatment. They point to the staggering $1.2 trillion U.S. goods trade deficit for 2024 as evidence that lenient trade policies threaten national security and undermine domestic industries. The hope is that increased pressure on both Cuba and its energy supporters can lead to significant shifts in policy.
Cuban economic data indicates significant vulnerabilities. Reports suggest that imported energy accounts for over 60% of Cuba’s industrial power supply. In 2023, widespread power shortages caused protests across the nation. With decreasing oil shipments from Venezuela and sanctions impacting Russian imports, Cuba finds itself at a critical point regarding energy stability.
Military and intelligence analysts have raised concerns about Cuba’s function as a relay point for the digital surveillance operations of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian interests in the Western Hemisphere. A classified Pentagon report leaked in late 2024 warned that ongoing energy resources were allowing Cuba to provide logistical support for foreign adversaries to the U.S.
The enforcement of this new policy draws upon established presidential actions, including Sections 232 and 301 of trade law, as well as actions under IEEPA. Agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will handle import screenings and impose tariffs. Intelligence agencies are also tasked with shipping surveillance and verifying oil source certificates to determine the eligibility for targeting.
Congress may receive notifications regarding the emergency, but it doesn’t need to grant approval. Historically, controversial emergency declarations have often persisted indefinitely. As of September 1, 2025, numerous national emergencies remain active, some dating back many years.
Critics of the initiative warn that it might lead to energy pricing ripples throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. European fuel traders reliant on flexible bunkering in international waters may experience rising spot prices. Nevertheless, administration officials argue that any resulting trade friction is a worthy cost for safeguarding national sovereignty and dismantling networks that support authoritarian regimes.
“It’s a matter of values and security,” stated the Treasury Undersecretary for Sanctions Policy. “We are closing the fuel lifeline upon which a criminal state survives. This is not about trade volume. It’s about leverage.”
Department of Energy sources expect that any minor disruptions to global supply chains will be manageable due to strong U.S. refining capacity and growing domestic production. Trump’s past actions to remove environmental restrictions on offshore drilling have also improved prospects for domestic oil supply.
Senator Rubio reiterated the administration’s view in Congress: “The Cuban regime has survived on the oxygen of foreign oil. With these tariffs, we tighten the noose on that pipeline. Finally.”
This move represents the most stringent measure taken against Cuba since the full enforcement of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act in 2019, allowing for lawsuits against foreign entities involved in trafficking expropriated properties. While that law was predominantly symbolic, it set the foundation for more intense economic penalties like those recently announced.
If enacted broadly, this tariff strategy related to Cuban oil could alter how smaller regimes acquire fuel and interact in trade, especially when they are backed by U.S. adversaries. The administration seeks to understand how effective economic strangulation can be as a tool against longstanding authoritarian regimes in the region.
The future of the embargo’s scope, particularly regarding oil, remains to be seen. Given the escalating atmosphere and legal scope available, it appears unlikely that the administration will ease its stance without signs of change—be it political reform or regime change.
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