NEW YORK/MEXICO CITY – US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba.
“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,” the order says.
The order, effective at 12:01 am 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.
The order gives both the secretary of state and the secretary of commerce authority to take necessary actions, including suspending or amending regulations, issuing notices in the Federal Register, and adopting rules to implement the order.
Trump claims that Cuba’s policies, practices and actions represent an unusual and extraordinary threat to US national security and foreign policy.
In a separate move on the same day, Trump threatened to impose a 50-percent tariff on all aircraft sold into the United States from Canada unless Canada “immediately” certifies business jets made by US plane manufacturer Gulfstream.
Trump accused Canada of wrongfully refusing to certify Gulfstream models, including the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700 and 800.
“We are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified,” Trump said in a social media post Thursday.
Sheinbaum, Trump talk on call
Also on Thursday, Trump spoke over telephone with his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum.
During the call, they agreed to have their respective teams continue to address pending bilateral issues, Sheinbaum said on social media.
The two presidents have spoken over phone several times since Trump began his second term in office, against a backdrop of bilateral tensions stemming from concerns over security and organized crime.
This latest call came at a time when Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is in Washington to advance negotiations related to the upcoming review of .
It also follows Trump’s recent remarks regarding possible ground operations against drug cartels in Mexico.