Economic coercion as state terrorism: U.S. tariff policy and its socioeconomic impact on Cuba

This paper examines the use of tariffs and broader trade restrictions by the United States against Cuba as a form of economic coercion that produces effects comparable to state-sponsored terrorism. By analysing U.S. tariff policies within the wider framework of the embargo, the paper argues that these measures are designed not merely to influence state behaviour but to generate systemic economic insecurity, civilian hardship, and political instability. Drawing on political economy, international law, and human security frameworks, the paper assesses the material and social consequences of U.S. trade policy on Cuban development, public welfare, and sovereignty. The study contributes to debates on economic warfare, sanctions ethics, and the expanding conceptual boundaries of terrorism in international relations