US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, thus increasing pressure on the communist government of the island nation and a long-time opponent of Washington, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The measure was approved by presidential decree within the framework of a declared national emergency, and the document did not specify specific tariff rates, nor which countries would be affected.
Trump said that the decision was necessary to protect “the national security and foreign policy of the United States from the malicious actions and policies of the Cuban regime“.
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected the US president's arguments, calling them unfounded.
“This new measure demonstrates the fascist, criminal and genocidal nature of a clique that has sacrificed the interests of the American people for purely personal gain“, Diaz-Canel said.“Cuban state media warned that the order could paralyze electricity production, agriculture, water supply and health services in the country, which is already in a severe economic crisis.“All spheres of life will be suffocated by the US government“, the Cuban government said in a statement broadcast on state television.“According to Reuters, Trump has stepped up his rhetoric against Cuba after US military forces detained ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month. The US president has repeatedly spoken of taking action against Havana and increasing pressure on its leadership.
This week, Trump said that “Cuba will soon go bankrupt”, adding that Venezuela, which was once the island's main oil supplier, has not been sending oil or financial funds recently.
Reuters reported earlier that Mexico, which has become Cuba's largest oil supplier since Venezuela cut off supplies in December, is also reconsidering whether to continue exports. The reason is fears of possible retaliation by the United States.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez described the tariff threats as a violation of international law.
“The United States is resorting to blackmail and coercion to force other countries to join its universally condemned blockade policy against Cuba, threatening them with arbitrary and unlawful tariffs in violation of free trade rules,“ Rodriguez said.
Trump has used tariff threats as a foreign policy tool throughout his second term, Reuters added.