Trump Launches Oil Embargo Strategy: The Goal of U.S. International Trade Policy Toward Cuba

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a drastic step by signing an executive order declaring a national emergency against oil trade with Cuba, according to reports from Jin10. This initiative reflects Washington’s international trade policy goal to control energy access for countries that are geopolitically opposed.

Executive Order and Control Mechanism

The order signed by Trump establishes a procedural framework for imposing punitive tariffs on countries or entities engaging in oil transactions with Cuba. This strategy is an escalation of the traditional embargo approach, utilizing tariffs as an economic weapon. Through this mechanism, the U.S. government not only restricts Cuba’s access to oil but also punishes Havana’s trading partners in the global market.

Economic Pressure Through Supply Chain Control

This move aims to create sustained economic pressure by targeting Cuba’s energy supply chain. By making oil transactions with Cuba unprofitable for third parties, the Trump Administration optimizes the international trade policy goal of forcing Havana to limit its economic activities. Such economic guerrilla tactics are designed to make oil suppliers think twice before supplying Cuba.

Strategic Implications for Bilateral Relations

This escalation reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Havana. The policy demonstrates how the U.S. uses economic supremacy and control over global markets to strengthen its diplomatic leverage. Trump’s international trade policy goals include using economic dominance as a political tool, marking a shift from a multilateral approach to a more aggressive unilateral strategy in dealing with ideological rivals.