“Mexican officials are negotiating with the US administration to find a legal way to supply fuel to Cuba without risking Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Blackout in Cuba. Photo: Getty Images Source: Reuters citing four informed sources.
Details: According to the interlocutors of the agency, Mexican high-ranking officials are in daily negotiations with their American counterparts, trying to find out the limits of the tariff threats outlined in executive order Trump on sanctions against countries that cooperate with Cuba.
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According to the sources, the parties are discussing the possibility of classifying the supply of gasoline and food as humanitarian aid. This would allow Mexico to send a tanker with fuel in the coming days without the risk of falling under US economic sanctions.
Cuba currently imports two-thirds of the fuel for its energy needs. The island faces widespread power outages and fuel shortages at gas stations.
“Imposing tariffs against countries supplying oil to Cuba could trigger a large-scale humanitarian crisis that would directly affect hospitals, food and other basic services for the Cuban people,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
Oil supplies to the island stopped after the US blocked Venezuelan tankers and eliminated from the power of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January.
In mid-January, the Mexican government also suspended oil shipments to Cuba due to pressure from the Trump administration.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that Cuba is at risk of humanitarian “collapse” if the country does not receive energy to support critical infrastructure.
Prehistory:
- At the end of January, the Financial Times reported that in Cuba about 15-20 days of oil left. According to the analytical company Kpler, since the beginning of 2026, Cuba has received only one batch of oil from Mexico with a volume of about 85 thousand barrels.