Havana — Cuba on Friday unveiled a broad national plan to protect essential services and ration fuel, as the communist-run government pushed back against a new U.S. effort aimed at cutting off oil supplies to the Caribbean island.
The measures come after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on U.S.-bound goods from any country exporting fuel to Cuba, warning of tougher conditions ahead for Cubans already facing severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine.
Cuban government ministers said the rationing program would guarantee fuel for critical sectors, including agriculture, education, water supply, healthcare and defense.
Commerce Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva struck a defiant tone while presenting the plan on national television.
“This is an opportunity and a challenge that we have no doubt we will overcome,” Perez-Oliva said. “We are not going to collapse.”
He said Cuba would continue supplying fuel to the tourism and export sectors, including production of the country’s world-famous cigars, to maintain foreign currency earnings needed to fund basic public services.
“If we don’t have income, then we will not overcome this situation,” he added.
Perez-Oliva noted that domestic and international air travel would not be immediately affected, though drivers should expect reduced fuel availability at gas stations until supply stabilizes.
The government also said it would protect port operations and maintain fuel for domestic transportation to safeguard Cuba’s import and export systems.
As part of the plan, Perez-Oliva announced a proposal to plant 200,000 hectares of rice, aiming to meet a significant portion of national demand. However, he acknowledged fuel shortages could force Cuba to rely more on renewable energy for irrigation and even animal power for farming.
Education Minister Naima Ariatne said infant-care centers and primary schools would remain open with in-person classes. Secondary schools and universities, however, would shift to a hybrid learning system depending on regional conditions and institutional capacity.
Health officials said the healthcare system would also be prioritized, with special attention given to emergency services, maternity wards and cancer treatment programs.