Secondary Tariffs Threatened on Countries Selling Oil to Cuba

Feb. 6, 2026
By: Chaney A. Finn

On January 29, President Trump signed an executive order declaring Cuba’s relationships with countries and entities hostile to the United States to be a national emergency and threatening tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island. The order aims to pressure the Cuban government to scale back its cooperation with U.S. adversaries including Russia, Iran, and China, and comes after the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela that effectively eliminated one of Cuba’s main oil suppliers. 

The order, which is effective Jan. 30, authorizes additional duties on imports from nations found to supply crude or petroleum products to Cuba, but does not set specific tariff rates. The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State and any senior official the Secretary of Commerce deems appropriate, must determine whether and to what extent an additional tariff should be imposed on goods that are products of a country selling or giving oil to Cuba. 

Notably, Mexico became Cuba’s top oil supplier after Venezuelan shipments to the island ended in December. The timing of the secondary tariff threats implicate the upcoming USMCA discussions set to take place in July 2026. Trade tensions have already been escalated between Mexico and the U.S. as, among other things, the Trump administration pressures Mexico to take action in confronting China’s unfair trade practices and importation of fentanyl precursors into Mexico before being manufactured and smuggled into the U.S.

Should you have any questions regarding secondary tariffs, USMCA, or any other trade-related questions, do not hesitate to contact any attorney at Barnes Richardson and Colburn, LLP.