US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Cuba. The document allows the US to impose additional tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to it.
The corresponding decree was published on the White House website on January 29.
Trump called the Cuban government's actions an “extraordinary threat” to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. He said Cuba supports “hostile countries and terrorist organizations” – Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
The decree states that Cuba is home to Russia's largest overseas electronic intelligence station, which “is attempting to steal classified information concerning US national security.” Cuba also “continues to deepen intelligence and defense cooperation” with China.
Trump accused the Cuban regime of persecuting political opponents, restricting freedom of speech, the press, and the Internet, as well as torture. He said that families of political prisoners were being persecuted for peaceful protests.
“The United States has zero tolerance for the predatory actions of the communist Cuban regime,” the order said. “The United States will act to protect its foreign policy, national security, and national interests, including by holding the Cuban regime accountable for its malign actions and connections.”
At the same time, Trump said that the United States “supports the Cuban people's aspirations for a free and democratic society.”
The state of emergency gives Trump the legal basis to exert economic pressure — not only on Cuba itself, but also on the countries that support it. The decree allows for additional tariffs on goods from countries that supply Cuba with oil.
The order provides for a mechanism for imposing tariffs: the Secretary of Commerce determines whether a country is directly or indirectly selling oil to Cuba, after which the Secretary of State recommends the level of additional tariffs. The final decision is made by the US President. The order took effect on January 30.