I. Trump Signs Executive Order

On the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court’s key ruling on the IEEPA tariff case, President Donald Trump once again wielded the tariff hammer, this time targeting Cuba.

On January 29, 2026, Trump signed a new executive order declaring a national emergency, threatening to impose additional ad valorem tariffs on any country that directly or indirectly supplies oil to Cuba.

• The order is based on the authority granted under national emergency powers.

• No specific tariff rates were set, and no countries were explicitly named.

• However, the document did reference Russia and China.

Currently, Cuba and Mexico have not issued official responses.

Cuba has been facing a severe energy crisis in recent years. Its long-term major oil supplier, Venezuela, ceased oil shipments to Cuba in November 2025 following U.S.-backed military actions that ousted the Maduro regime. Since then, Mexico has quickly become Cuba’s largest oil supplier.

Trump stated this week:

“Cuba will fail very soon. Venezuela used to be the island’s largest oil supplier, but recently has stopped delivering oil or funds to Cuba.”

II. Progress on the Trump Tariff Case

On January 21, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court entered a four-week recess, with the next expected decision scheduled for February 20, 2026.

• Among the nine Justices, three explicitly support Trump, three oppose, and three remain undecided.

• Chief Justice Roberts noted that tariffs are a “core power” of Congress under the Constitution, while also acknowledging that foreign tariffs can be highly effective in achieving specific objectives. In other words: collecting tariffs is effective, but the constitutional authority lies with Congress.

On January 28, speaking on Fox News, Trump said:

“We’ll find other ways to do similar things, but it will be more inconvenient.”

III. Trump’s Actions While the Tariff Case Is Pending

Even as the court case proceeds, Trump has continued to wield tariffs strategically:

• Iran: Threatened a 25% tariff on any country trading with Iran.

• South Korea: Threatened to raise tariffs from 15% to 25% (later softened on January 27, stating he would negotiate with Korea).

• European Union: Threatened tariffs over the Greenland dispute (later retracted).

• Canada: Threatened a 50% tariff on all Canadian aircraft exported to the U.S.

These actions underscore that, regardless of pending litigation, Trump continues to use tariffs as a tool of foreign policy and leverage.