BAÑOS, Ecuador — Ecuadoreans found their nation at a standstill on Thursday, with major roads closed, taxis unavailable and public transportation shut down as the country’s transit unions declared a strike to protest President Lenín Moreno’s decision to strip away a $1.3 billion fuel subsidy.

Demonstrators blocked roads in the capital, Quito, and in smaller cities across the nation. Blockades along the main road to Quito International Airport shut down traffic, setting off rippling flight delays and cancellations.

President Moreno’s move on fuel subsidies is expected to significantly raise the price of gasoline and diesel for consumers. Taxi drivers, who are represented by the union, pay for gas out of pocket; other protesters voiced alarm at ballooning consumer prices.

By Thursday afternoon, Mr. Moreno announced a state of emergency, permitting Ecuador’s armed forces to dismantle the makeshift blockades, which were formed by buses, vans and taxis parked across the roads.