Pemex Oil Sales to Cuba: Contract Details & Trump Tariff Threat

Trump Imposes Tariff Threat on Countries Supplying Oil to Cuba

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, January 29, 2026, that would impose a tariff on goods from any country selling or providing oil to Cuba. The move is intended to pressure nations, particularly Mexico, and comes as Cuba faces a deepening energy crisis.

The order, revealed on Thursday evening, did not specify the size of the tariffs. According to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump did not mention Cuba during a 40-minute phone call earlier that day. Sheinbaum learned of the executive order later that evening and has directed her foreign relations secretary to seek further information from the U.S. State Department.

Mexico is a key oil supplier to Cuba, and the tariff threat puts the two countries at odds. Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, reportedly shipped nearly 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba from January through September 30, 2025. However, that figure had fallen to approximately 7,000 barrels by January 2026.

According to Víctor Rodríguez, director of Pemex, as of February 4, 2026, the company has only one contract to sell crude oil to Cuba, a 2023 agreement. He stated that this contract represents just 0.1 percent of Pemex’s total production, describing it as “very poquito” (very little). Rodríguez also indicated that Pemex was already planning to decrease its oil exports, based on a strategy initiated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to prioritize domestic use of crude oil.

Pemex has invoiced Cuba for around $1.4 billion for oil sales since 2023, with $496 million of that total occurring in 2024, the first year of President Sheinbaum’s administration. Rodríguez emphasized that Cuba is current on its payments, operating under a credit system and paying as deliveries are made. Sheinbaum added that the relationship is a commercial one, not simply aid.

Cuba is facing one of its worst energy crises in its history, relying on oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia, and Venezuela. Following a U.S. Operation that ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Cuba now depends on supplies from Mexico or Russia. Cuba requires the “best” Mexican crude, specifically the Istmo and Olmeca blends, because its refineries are outdated and cannot process oil with high sulfur content.

The tariff threat has created tension between Mexico and the U.S. While Sheinbaum stated the issue was not discussed during her call with Trump, Trump later confirmed he had asked her to halt oil shipments to Cuba.

Trump has previously stated that no more Venezuelan oil would be sent to Cuba and that the Cuban government is “ready to fall.” On January 11, 2026, he posted on social media that “there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba — zero.” A U.S. Official reportedly indicated that the U.S. Does not aim to cause the collapse of the Cuban government, but rather to negotiate a transition away from its communist system.

Cuba has responded to Trump’s actions by calling him “fascist” and warning of a severe crisis if oil supplies are cut off.