The United States imposes new restrictions for maritime trade with Cuba

President Donald Trump approved a new series of measures that will affect Cuban maritime trade.

The new regulations entered into force on Wednesday, April 2 and grant the United States Coast Guard the possibility of imposing more strict conditions on ships from the largest of the Antilles.

As it has transcended, the decision is based on the inefficient anti -terrorist measures applied by the Cuban government over its vessels, which can mean a threat to the American territory.

It should be noted that, one of the first amendments made by current President Donald Trump after his arrival at the White House, was to include Cuba again in the list of sponsoring countries of terrorism, from which he had taken the then president, Joe Biden.

What do new measures imply

While it is true that the new measures tense even more the already complex situation between Havana and Washington, they do not necessarily imply that exports of basic products and food between Cuba and the United States are interrupted.

However, complications are expected in standard loading and unloading procedures of vessels. This can impact directly on the route of the ships and the transfer of merchandise, according to a publication made by the US-Cuba Economic and Commercial Council.

Exports to Cuba from the United States

Through a report presented by the US-Cuba Economic and Commercial Council, it was known that in January 2025, exports between the two nations had increased, with respect to the same period of time in 2024.

The figures presented by the Council reflected that, in the case of food, the value of exports had risen in more than 363 thousand dollars between one year and another, despite the restrictions of the embargo.

It is necessary to clarify that this figure does not contemplate the “transportation expenses, bank charges or other costs associated with exports,” said the Council.

Increases coastal surveillance

As part of a greater effort to strengthen security in North American waters, the Coast Guard announced that it has redoubled its troops in the Florida Strait. In this way, it is planned to control the illegal income of emigrants from countries such as Cuba and Haiti.

In this sense, the border authorities have increased their naval and aerial resources in the region, which generates not little tension due to military deployment. One of the last reports indicates that the Cuban government protested before the presence of American destroyer USS Serly in the Gulf of Mexico.

Through a publication made on the social network X, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said that «this military presence in the area represents a threat to the security and peace of Latin America and the Caribbean.»