President Trump signs executive order threatening tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
On Thursday President Donald Trump declared a national emergency through an executive order over Cuba, accusing the communist regime of aligning with foreign powers and terrorist groups while moving to punish countries that supply the island nation with oil.
Thursday’s ruling says the policies and actions of the Cuban government constitute “an unusual and unusual threat, originating in whole or in large part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
To address that threat, Trump has ordered the creation of a tariff mechanism that allows the US to impose additional duties on exports that “directly or indirectly sell or supply any oil to Cuba,” according to the order.
The White House said the move shows a significant increase in American pressure on the Cuban government, which is aimed at protecting US national security and foreign policy interests.
MADURO’S KIDNAPPING IS ‘BEGINNING OF THE LAST’ FOR CUBA GOVERNMENT, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN SAYS
President Donald Trump signed an executive order, on Thursday, targeting countries that supply oil to the Cuban government. (Al Drago/Reuters)
In the order, Trump said that Cuba is aligned with and provides support to “many hostile countries, overseas terrorist groups, and aggressive actors against the United States,” naming Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
The administration says Cuba has a major Russian intelligence agency overseas, which the command says is trying to steal U.S. national security information. The order also states that Cuba continues to deepen intelligence and defense cooperation with China.
According to the order, Cuba “hosts overseas terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas.”
Trump also cited the Cuban government’s human rights record, accusing the regime of torturing and torturing political opponents, denying freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and retaliating against the families of political prisoners who protest peacefully.
“The United States will not tolerate the destruction of the communist regime in Cuba,” Trump said in the order, adding that the administration will take action to respond to the regime while supporting the aspirations of the Cuban people for a free and democratic society.
CUBA’S SHADOW IN VENEZUELA: HAVANA’S INTELLIGENCE AND THE MILITARY PASS AFTER MADURO’S COUP
Trump also cited the Cuban government’s human rights record and alleged reprisals against families of political prisoners who peacefully protest. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)
Under this order, the Department of Commerce will determine whether a foreign country supplies oil to Cuba, directly or through intermediaries. The Department of State, working with Treasury, Homeland Security, Commerce and the US Trade Representative, will determine what the new tariffs should be, if any.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been tasked with monitoring the national emergency and reporting to Congress, while the Commerce Department will continue to track which countries supply oil to Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, left, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, June 12, 2024, in Moscow. (AP Photo, File)
In a fact sheet, the White House said the order was designed to protect US national security and foreign policy from the “bad actions and policies” of the Cuban regime, and described the move as part of Trump’s broader effort to deal with regimes that threaten US interests.
The administration said the move builds on Trump’s initial Cuba policy, which reversed Obama’s diplomatic efforts and reinstated tough measures against the communist government.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The executive order will come into force on Friday.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for further comment.
