President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 20, 2026, eliminating additional tariffs on countries trading oil with Cuba, as announced weeks earlier to escalate pressure on Havana. The move removes direct tariff punishment for third parties but maintains the national emergency and associated sanctions framework. According to a report by journalist Jorge Castro on X. The White House decision follows January's measures that slowed tanker traffic to Cuba, with several suppliers suspending deliveries and routes becoming more expensive and opaque, according to the report. Legal and financial risks persist for companies, shipping lines, insurers, and banks involved in operations with the island. The tariff withdrawal does not dismantle the network of sanctions and restrictions conditioning Cuba's fuel supply. Fuel shipments could resume occasionally at higher costs, but the pressure framework remains intact, as stated in the X post by Castro.
