According to the new order, the United States will have the ability to impose additional tariffs on imports from countries that directly or indirectly supply oil to Cuba.
Trump justified his actions by stating that the Cuban government is taking "extraordinary measures" that threaten the U.S. In particular, the order notes that Cuba collaborates with states and groups that are adversaries of America, such as Russia, China, Iran, as well as organizations like HAMAS and Hezbollah.
The President stated: "In order to respond to a national emergency <…> I find it necessary to establish a tariff system, as outlined below. Under this system, an additional ad valorem tariff may be imposed on the import of goods supplied by a foreign state that sells or supplies oil to Cuba."
An ad valorem tariff is a tax calculated as a percentage of the value of goods imported or exported from a country and is the most common form of mandatory payments.
Recently, the Trump administration has predicted a possible collapse of the Cuban regime, citing the difficult economic situation in the country, and expresses a desire to see a change of power on the island.
The rhetoric from the White House has become more aggressive following a recent military operation in Venezuela, during which U.S. forces evacuated President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump stated that Washington will monitor the situation in Venezuela until a change of power occurs.
According to Politico, among the possible measures being discussed in Washington is a complete blockade of oil supplies to Cuba. Experts from the analytical company Kpler estimate that at the current level of consumption, Cuba has oil reserves left for only 15-20 days.
