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The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment ordered the temporary halt of contracts and new shipments of combustion vehicles to Cuba amidst the severe fuel crisis the country is facing.
A copy of the official document, confirmed by another knowledgeable source, states that the measure responds to the current supply situation and is part of the actions taken to address it.
The notification, signed by First Deputy Minister Carlos Luis Jorge Méndez and dated February 19, 2026, specifies that the decision covers both new operations and contracts already signed and pending shipment, including shipments related to consignment contracts.
The measure excludes vehicles designated for Cuban personnel permanently assigned to diplomatic, consular, or business missions, as well as cooperators, professionals, and other workers contracted by Cuban entities abroad or under intergovernmental agreements.
Crew members of contracted ships and aircraft are also included.
The document also states that, while the suspension is in place, the sale of existing combustion vehicle stocks currently held in customs warehouses may continue.
The recipient entities must communicate the decision to suppliers and customers and implement the corresponding actions to comply with the provision.
The measure is adopted in a context characterized by prolonged blackouts, partial transportation shutdowns, and energy restrictions that have impacted various sectors of the national economy.
Recently, the state-owned company Aerovaradero was once again at the center of criticism after a social media post exposed the condition of dozens of motorcycles sent to Cuba and stored at the José Martí International Airport in Santiago de Cuba.
The user David Sollet Ortiz, in the Facebook group "MY CUBA IS DYING," shared images and a message describing the state of neglect of the vehicles.
Earlier, in December, dozens of Cubans reported that their imported vehicles had been held for months in ports like Mariel and at Transimport facilities, without any official explanation and vulnerable to damage from salt, rain, and sun.
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