Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum disclosed that U.S. President Donald Trump surprised Mexico with an executive order that threatened tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba. Sheinbaum mentioned that the topic of Cuba was not discussed during their phone call, but the executive order was issued later that evening. She directed her foreign relations secretary to gather more information from the U.S. State Department.
The executive order, signed by Trump, warned of imposing tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba, without specifying the tariff rates. With Venezuela’s oil industry largely controlled by the United States, Mexico has become Cuba’s primary oil supplier. Sheinbaum expressed concerns that imposing tariffs on oil shipments to Cuba could lead to a severe humanitarian crisis affecting hospitals, the electrical grid, and food supply on the island.
Acknowledging the challenges Cuba is facing, Sheinbaum stated that Mexico cannot risk facing tariffs. Mexico’s oil exports to Cuba have decreased recently, with reports indicating a decline from 17,000 barrels per day to about 7,000 bpd. She confirmed that the state-owned oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), had recently halted an oil shipment to Cuba.
Veronica Ayala from Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity criticized the lack of transparency in Mexico’s oil shipments to Cuba, noting that exports had been paused. The slowdown in oil shipments began around the time U.S. lawmakers raised concerns about Mexico’s oil support to Cuba. Matías Gómez Léautaud, a Latin America analyst with Eurasia Group, highlighted the strain the situation has placed on Mexico amid ongoing trade negotiations and security issues.
The Trump administration’s actions have complicated Mexico’s relationship with Cuba and raised uncertainties about future ties between the two countries.