U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, Reuters reports.
"Beginning on the effective date of this order, an additional ad valorem rate of duty may be imposed on goods imported into the United States that are products of any other country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba," said the order, which was signed under a national emergency declaration.
The order, effective at 12:01 a.m. ET (0501 GMT) on Jan. 30, defines "oil" as crude oil or petroleum products. It authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to determine whether a foreign country sells or provides oil to Cuba, and to issue necessary regulations to enforce the order.
The Secretary of State is tasked with deciding whether, and to what extent, an additional duty should be imposed, based on the Secretary of Commerce's findings. Trump will then consider the recommendation in deciding whether to impose the tariff.
Trump claims that Cuba's policies, practices and actions represent an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
