Trump blindsided Mexico with Cuba oil export tariff menace, says Mexican president

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U.S. President Donald Trump blindsided Mexico with an govt order threatening tariffs on any nation that equipped Cuba with oil, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed on Friday.

Sheinbaum, talking throughout a morning information convention in Tijuana, within the Mexican state of Baja California, stated Trump made no point out of Cuba throughout their 40-minute telephone name on Thursday morning.

"We didn't contact on the subject of Cuba, and within the night then this [executive order] got here out," she stated.

The Mexican president stated she had directed her international relations secretary to hunt extra info from the U.S. State Division.

Trump signed an govt order, revealed Thursday night, threatening to impose tariffs on any nation that "instantly or not directly gives oil to Cuba." The chief order didn't present any particulars on the dimensions of the threatened tariffs.

<img loading="lazy" alt="An aerial view through clouses of land and water and infrastructure." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74cb9521-b1dd-4f6b-b086-64f47ac356a2,1769814708002/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3339%2C2268%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74cb9521-b1dd-4f6b-b086-64f47ac356a2,1769814708002/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3339%2C2268%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74cb9521-b1dd-4f6b-b086-64f47ac356a2,1769814708002/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3339%2C2268%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74cb9521-b1dd-4f6b-b086-64f47ac356a2,1769814708002/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3339%2C2268%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.4722222222222223" data-cy="image-img"/> A drone view exhibits the Pajaritos terminal of Mexico's state-owned oil firm Pemex, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz state. (Angel Hernandez/Reuters) Mexico has change into Cuba's major oil provider now that Venezuela's oil business has largely fallen beneath the management of america. That follows navy strikes earlier this month that noticed the seize of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who's now dealing with drug and weapons costs in New York.

Sheinbaum stated the tariff threats over oil shipments to Cuba might set off a significant humanitarian disaster on the island. Reducing off oil provides would severely influence the operations of hospitals, {the electrical} grid and the meals provide, she stated.

"The imposition of tariffs on nations that present oil to Cuba might create a far-reaching humanitarian disaster," Sheinbaum stated.

Sheinbaum stated Cuba is at the moment "going by way of a tough second" however acknowledged she couldn’t put Mexico "in danger when it comes to the tariffs."

Mexico's oil exports to Cuba, by way of its state-owned oil firm, have declined from about 17,000 barrels per day over the primary 9 months of 2025 to about 7,000 bpd this month, in response to filings with the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee, whereas an NPR report quoting Jorge Piñon, an knowledgeable on the College of Texas Power Institute, stated about 20,000 bpd have been exported to Cuba within the first 9 months of final yr..

Sheinbaum confirmed this week that Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the state owned-oil firm, not too long ago cancelled an oil cargo to Cuba.

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"What now we have documented is that every one these exports have been paused for the second," Ayala stated.

She stated her group seen a slowdown in oil shipments to Cuba starting within the fall of 2025, across the time U.S. lawmakers started making noises about Mexico's oil lifeline to Cuba.

Mexico has an extended and deep historical past of assist and friendship with Cuba, stated Matías Gómez Léautaud, a Latin America analyst with Eurasia Group.

The Trump administration has put Mexico in a tricky spot throughout a fragile time — with the renegotiation of a continental commerce settlement and bilateral safety irritants across the drug commerce on the desk.

"So this case might even see a break, not simply between Mexico and Cuba, however between the Mexico of tomorrow and the Mexico of yesterday," he stated.