BRIEF TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The following brief was submitted on March 10 to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade as input to its study of “The Humanitarian Situation in Cuba”. Click here for the pdf.
The Americas Policy Group (APG) and Common Frontiers, coalitions formed by dozens of respected Canadian civil society organizations, are deeply concerned about the human rights impacts of a U.S. executive order imposing a fuel blockade on Cuba. We call on Canada to immediately reject this dangerous, coercive action which is incompatible with principles of sovereignty, non-intervention and self-determination, essential for a democratic, equitable and peaceful international order.
In October 2025, United Nations member states at the General Assembly voted for the 33rd consecutive time for an end to a decades-long U.S. embargo against Cuba, which has caused enormous hardship and scarcity for the Cuban people. This is reaching crisis proportions as a result of an executive order signed by President Trump on January 29, authorizing the imposition of trade tariffs on any country that directly or indirectly provides oil to Cuba.
UN human rights experts have stated “there is no right under international law to impose economic penalties on third States for engaging in lawful trade with another sovereign country.” The UN experts conclude that the imposition of a fuel blockade on Cuba is “a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to a democratic and equitable international order.”
Member organizations of the Americas Policy Group and Common Frontiers have a long history of cooperation with Cuban civil society organizations and are hearing from them about the impacts of blocking oil supplies to their country.
Cuba is highly dependent on imported fuel for essential services, including electricity generation, hospitals, health services, water and sanitation, public transportation, food production and distribution. Moreover, Cuba has been experiencing a deepening socio-economic crisis due to a 60-year financial and trade blockade by the United States, as well as the impacts of increasing extreme weather events. U.S. unilateral measures of economic and political coercion deliberately seek to deepen the suffering of the Cuban people to force regime change.
We condemn these measures in the strongest possible terms and echo the grave concerns of partners, including the World Council of Churches and the ACT Alliance, that “collective punishment of such an existential nature on the entire Cuban people cannot be justified.”
As an illustration of the dire situation on the ground, the Secretary General of the Provincial Union of Public Administration Workers of Havana shared this message with us: “Our members are experiencing firsthand the effects of the measures taken to prevent fuel from entering the country. For example, our municipal services have been affected; services that are vital to the population like solid waste collection. Without fuel we have no way to collect the garbage. The population, along with municipal workers, are doing everything we can to prevent consequences such as an epidemic or the spread of diseases. We will not give up.”
We also share this telling testimony from a citizen in Cárdenas: “A few days ago, a pregnant woman gave birth on the street because there was no ambulance to take her to the hospital. Meanwhile, in the Maternity Hospital of Santa Marta, for days there has been no fuel to prepare food for patients. Thanks to the huge heart of those who work there, they have collected firewood to cook at least enough for patients to have a bite to eat. Among them is my granddaughter. Some patients need an ultrasound at the polyclinic in Varadero but due to the total lack of fuel, they would have to rent a private car and pay excessive prices to be able to know how the baby and the mother are doing. How long will our people have to endure this, and especially the most vulnerable? With great sadness, it hurts to see that everything is getting worse … all of Cuba is experiencing one of the most difficult moments in our history."
As lack of fuel exacerbates a growing crisis, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has sounded the alarm and reiterated his call “to lift unilateral sectoral measures, given their broad and indiscriminate impact on the population.” The High Commissioner confirms reports that “intensive care units, emergency rooms, and ambulance services are compromised, as are the production, delivery, and storage of vaccines, blood products, and other temperature-sensitive medications.” Power cuts are undermining access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. The fuel shortage has also disrupted the rationing system, the regulated basic food basket, and social protection networks, including school meals, maternity homes, and nursing homes. Vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected. The right to life and the ability to enjoy many other rights are in jeopardy.
Our coalitions are heartened by Canada’s long, highly respected history of independent foreign policy towards Cuba and uninterrupted diplomatic relations with the country since 1945. This includes the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (FEMA), Canadian legislation that protects Canadian sovereignty and commercial interests from U.S. laws and policies that try to impose their jurisdiction inside Canada. We also welcome Canada’s past support for multilateral efforts to end the unjust U.S. economic embargo, such as repeated votes in the United Nations General Assembly condemning the blockade. We call for this principled stance to be upheld and strengthened.
Recommendations to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) for Canadian policy responses to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Cuba:
Publicly and unequivocally condemn the ongoing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and coercive measures announced by the Trump administration that threaten access to the necessities of life, including food, medicine and fuel.
Reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and the human rights obligations Canada has willingly undertaken, including respect for sovereignty, self-determination and the rights to food, health, and wellbeing.
Work with regional allies – including at the UN and in other spaces for multilateral action - to end the oil blockade and other punitive economic measuresagainst Cuba, as well as toexpand access to humanitarian supplies.
Deepen bilateral humanitarian cooperation with Cuba, including direct Canadian assistance to alleviate suffering among the civilian population.
Reject all threats of intervention or coercion against countries in the Americas and promote peace, diplomacy, dialogue and regional stability, in accordance with Canada’s stated values and international obligations.
Description of the organizations who submitted this brief:
The Americas Policy Group (APG) is a national network of Canadian civil society organizations working for human rights and social and environmental justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. The APG brings together international development and humanitarian NGOs, human rights organizations, labour unions, faith-based and solidarity groups, and research institutions.
Common Frontiers is a national coalition of labour, environmental, faith based and social justice organizations focused on the Americas. We amplify the struggles of organizations and communities with which our members hold long-term relationships throughout the region, and who work to defend democracy, human rights, labour rights, strong public services and the environment.