Exclusive-Mexico seeking way to send fuel to Cuba without being hit by US tariffs, sources say

The Mexican government under President Claudia Sheinbaum is currently exploring diplomatic and logistical avenues to resume fuel shipments to Cuba as of February 5, 2026, amid the island’s deepening energy crisis. This initiative seeks to provide essential humanitarian relief while avoiding the threat of punitive trade tariffs recently outlined by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration classifies energy support to Havana as a threat to national security. High-level Mexican officials have reportedly entered frequent discussions with their counterparts in Washington to clarify the scope of recent executive orders and determine if fuel deliveries can be reclassified or protected to prevent economic retaliation. Mexico’s pursuit of a solution follows a significant disruption in Cuba's energy supply after shipments from Venezuela ceased in early January following a U.S. blockade and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. While Mexico had stepped in as the island's primary supplier, it was forced to halt crude and refined product shipments in mid-January due to escalating pressure from the United States. Currently, Cuba relies on imports for two-thirds of its energy needs, and the lack of reliable supply has led to severe power outages and critical shortages at gas stations across the nation. To bridge the gap without triggering a trade war, Mexican negotiators are investigating whether gasoline, food, and medicine can be grouped together as a humanitarian aid package. President Sheinbaum has emphasized that imposing tariffs on energy suppliers could lead to a "total humanitarian collapse" affecting hospitals and basic infrastructure, a sentiment echoed by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. While the White House has previously signaled that it expects Mexico to stop all oil deliveries, sources close to the negotiations suggest that both sides are talking almost every other day in hopes of reaching a legal compromise.