HAVANA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for attempting to "strangle" Cuba's economy through new tariff measures, accusing Washington of escalating its long-standing pressure campaign against the island nation.
In response to a query about an executive order signed by Trump on Thursday threatening to impose additional tariffs on goods imported from countries that provide oil to Cuba, Diaz-Canel said in a social media post that under a "false and groundless pretext," the U.S. president seeks to asphyxiate Cuba's economy by imposing tariffs on countries that "sovereignly trade oil with Cuba."
The Cuban leader said the new move further exposes the true nature of Washington's policy toward Cuba.
"This new measure reveals the fascist, criminal and genocidal nature of a clique that has hijacked the interests of the U.S. people for purely personal ends," he said.
Cuba has long denounced U.S. sanctions and restrictions as an economic blockade that harms the livelihoods of its people, while calling on the international community to oppose unilateral coercive measures. ■