Issue Feb 18-24 2026: On February 20, the White House ended additional tariffs on countries providing fuel to Cuba, reversing a ruling passed on January 29, by which the U.S. president had signed an executive order under the auspices of the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) creating a tariff system on imports from countries

Issue Feb 18-24 2026: After sanctions from the White House revoking visas from three Chilean government officials, former Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker has warned President-elect José Antonio Kast that his scheduled visit to the “Shield of the Americas” summit in the United States may involve having to kowtow to the U.S. head-of-state.

Issue Feb 18-24 2026: It remains unclear whether the back-channel will evolve into a formal process or concrete measures.