AGP Executive Report

Cuban Domestic Trade Update: Cuba’s Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) published new rules to reorganize domestic commerce, including Decree 167 for regulating all forms of trade and Decree 168 for the Central Commercial Registry, with mandatory compliance and a stronger consumer-protection focus. Energy & Power Crisis: Cuba’s blackouts are hitting daily life hard—Havana residents protest again in El Fanguito amid prolonged outages, Holguín’s end-of-summer events spark anger as the east remains disconnected at times, and Camagüey’s Najasa reports week-long outages that repeatedly knock out appliances. School Year Under Strain: Cuba plans to start the 2026-2027 school year on Sept. 1 with flexible attendance and adjusted schedules, but Holguín faces a teacher deficit of 2,000+ and families report classes are impossible without electricity, water, food, and basic services. Oil Infrastructure Risk: A break on the Varadero–Matanzas pipeline was sealed after an oil spill, but the incident again exposed the fragility of older Soviet-era pipe standards and its knock-on risk to the Guiteras thermoelectric plant. Food Prices Pressure: Chicken picadillo (MDM) jumped from 450 to 600 pesos per pound, tied to the wider price-cap rollback under Resolution 150/2026, worsening affordability for lower-income households.

Domestic Trade Overhaul: Cuba’s Official Gazette published Decree 167 and Decree 168, updating the legal framework for domestic trade and the Central Commercial Registry, with mandatory compliance for authorized traders and a stronger push for transparency and consumer protection. Retail Expansion Rules: The package also clears the way for chains of stores, restaurants, and food networks nationwide, while MINCIN sets a new classification for commercial establishments by quality/comfort and defines business types. Power-Water Crisis in Havana: Blackouts are again disrupting water pumping in Havana, with officials reviewing motor recovery and strategies as pumps fall silent and residents face shortages. Grid Instability in the East: A new SEN disturbance separated eastern provinces and knocked out multiple thermoelectric units; service was restored hours later, underscoring repeated disconnections in 2026. School Year Under Strain: Education authorities say only 73% of teaching positions are filled and uniforms won’t cover all students, while in-person classes are still being promoted despite the energy crisis. Agriculture 4.0 Push: Díaz-Canel highlighted drone and robotic crop monitoring at ICIMAF, but public reaction focused on the gap between tech pilots and urgent food production needs. Renewables Financing Call: IRENA opened a regional call for renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Cuba, targeting solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and green industrialization. Private-Sector Friction: Swiss firms report that even when state banks issue payment orders and guarantees, collections are rarely successful, pushing some members to leave Cuba.

Education Under Strain: Cuba will start the new school year on Sept. 1 for about 1.4–1.5 million students, but the Education Ministry admits only 73% of teaching posts are filled and uniforms won’t be available for all students, with authorities saying in-person classes can’t be guaranteed amid the energy crisis. Power Grid Instability: The national electric system again split eastern provinces from Holguín to Guantánamo after a transmission-line disturbance, knocking out major units; the Electric Union later reported reconnection, but 2026 has already seen multiple full and partial disconnections. Food Security Push Meets Reality: Díaz-Canel promoted “Agriculture 4.0” using drones and robotic platforms, but critics point to hunger and Cuba’s heavy food import dependence while asking when staples like beans and greens will be produced locally. Health Supply Support: UNICEF delivered 213,000 prenatal supplement bottles to Cuba via air transport to reach pregnant and breastfeeding women as medicine and logistics shortages persist. Trade Friction: Swiss firms report they “almost never manage to collect” after state-bank paperwork, and Swiss-Cuban Chamber membership has fallen, signaling mounting barriers for business on the island. Local Hardship Stories: A Camagüey teacher shortfall of nearly 3,000 is forcing class reshuffles, while accounts of families surviving on minimal food underscore the pressure on daily life.

Energy & Utilities: Cuba’s National Electric System suffered another partial disconnection in the east, with units at the Lidio Ramón Pérez “Felton,” Diez de Octubre, and Antonio Maceo plants going offline, disrupting families and businesses and forcing restoration protocols. Water & Infrastructure: Díaz-Canel visited the Paso Seco water supply source as maintenance and backup-power work continues to keep Havana pumping despite the prolonged energy crisis. Education & Workforce: Cuba will start the school year for about 1.4 million students despite shortages of teachers and uniforms, using more flexible in-person schedules and attendance rules. Health & Biotech: Cuban scientists at the Center for Molecular Immunology developed cancer drug candidate 2C12, positioned as a domestic alternative amid supply constraints. Safety & Logistics: Investigations continue after a Cuban national was crushed by containers at a Houston terminal; police say a machine operator placed two 40-foot containers without seeing anyone nearby. Energy Policy (US-Cuba spillover): The U.S. renewed and expanded restrictions tied to the bulk-power system, adding compliance pressure for foreign-produced grid equipment that Cuba’s energy sector can feel indirectly through supply chains.

Power & Water Crisis: Cuba’s Electric Union says it restored the eastern link of the National Electroenergetic System after a partial disconnection that left provinces from Holguín to Guantánamo without supply, though many residents reported power still not returning. Water Infrastructure: President Díaz-Canel inspected the Paso Seco water source in Havana as emergency works ramp up after pipeline damage left multiple municipalities struggling for water. Healthcare Supply & Biotech: Cuba denounced U.S. restrictions on medicines and medical inputs for its biopharmaceutical sector, citing progress on home-grown cancer treatment 2C12. Food Access & Informal Survival: A viral video shows Cubans cooking non-traditional “slugs in sauce” amid severe food shortages and soaring prices. Agriculture & Self-Sufficiency Narrative: State TV highlighted a young UJC leader in Guantánamo tending a family plot—bananas, cassava, vegetables and more—while acknowledging her limited time. Energy Industry Loss: Cuban solar pioneer Luis Bérriz Pérez, founder of Cubasolar, has died. Education Continuity: Cuba says the new school year will start September 1 with nearly 1.5 million students, using flexible schedules and dual sessions where possible.

Cuba Energy & Utilities: Guantánamo officials say Cuba is pushing 176 economic and social “transformations,” including replacing damaged transformers in Maisí and improving power stability by reshaping distribution schedules; they also highlight photovoltaic installs and new ETECSA systems to diversify generation and boost telecoms. Cuba Health & Pharma: A U.S.-based family reports progress using Cuba’s home-grown dementia drug NeuralCIM, citing Cuban trial results with symptom stabilization and improvements over 48 weeks. Cuba Migration Tragedy: Two-year-old Cuban twins died after nine days adrift at sea while trying to reach Mexico; the raft was rescued off Yucatán after critical dehydration. Cuba Private Sector & Regulation: Cuba’s government is also discussing tighter rules around private pharmacy medication sales, requiring compliance with Decree 160 and qualified staff. U.S.-Cuba Economic Pressure: Commentary argues a new wave of U.S. sanctions is escalating pressure on Cuba’s economy and could raise intervention fears.

Cuban Cancer Breakthrough: Cuba’s Centre for Molecular Immunology says home-grown drug 2C12 is ready to move into human trials for advanced melanoma, with early studies planned at Havana and Villa Clara oncology centers. Mining Under Sanctions Pressure: Antilles Gold’s Nueva Sabana copper-gold project faces a U.S. regulatory test after Minera La Victoria was added to the SDN list, forcing the company to seek a U.S.-based investor to take at least 51% control. Electricity Reliability Crisis: In Ciego de Ávila, the provincial power company admits some neighborhoods have been without electricity for over 10 days because damaged transformers can’t be replaced due to missing spare parts. Food & Pricing Reality Check: Ciego de Ávila journalists openly admit Cuba’s price caps have long been “dead letters,” with published caps not showing up in markets and cost-sheet rules widely ignored. Waste Collection Pilot Fails: Havana’s El Vedado “El Rampeño” electric-tricycle garbage project is declared a failure after promised vehicles and a charging “solinera” didn’t arrive and energy constraints derailed the plan. School-Year Strain: Díaz-Canel pushes back on “collapse” claims as the 2026-27 school year starts Sept. 1, but reporting highlights major teacher shortages and families’ concerns over electricity, water, and food.

Urban Sanitation Setback: Havana’s El Vedado “El Rampeño” garbage-collection project using electric tricycles is being called a failure after promised vehicles and a charging station never arrived, with organizers citing energy-constraint delays and unresolved alternative plans. Private Sector Pressure: President Díaz-Canel met Cuba’s private sector, urging systematic dialogue across food, agriculture, energy, transport and legal services, while acknowledging persistent “prejudices and obstacles” inside state structures that limit entrepreneurs. Embargo Fallout: Cuba condemned the U.S. extension of the economic embargo through September 2027, as residents link the renewed squeeze to blackouts, fuel shortages and higher prices. Energy Theft Watch: Reports say dielectric oil thefts and related losses are spreading across Cuba, prompting renewed attention on the National Electric System. Sports Administration: Cuba’s 2026 National Baseball Series will run Oct. 4–Dec. 22 with a new two-zone, four-group format and fewer games due to the country’s broader constraints. Dissident Outreach to EU: The Assembly of the Cuban Resistance urged the EU to stop financing the Castro regime and redirect support to Ukraine. International Solidarity for Otero Alcántara: Amnesty International delivered 27,000 letters to imprisoned-then-exiled Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in Miami. Cuba-US Politics: Cuba’s foreign minister again denounced the embargo as “genocidal,” while the U.S. ramps up sanctions targeting Cuban entities, including mining-linked measures.

Energy & Power Theft: Cuba’s grid keeps getting hit as Holguín reports an “epidemic” of dielectric oil thefts, with cases linked to transformer and substation damage and power outages. Sanctions Pressure: The US extended the Trading With the Enemy Act for another year, while Havana calls the move “genocidal,” as Cuba faces a deepening energy and supply crunch. Private Sector Clampdown: Díaz-Canel met private businesses and warned against price-setting, tax evasion, speculation, hoarding, and other “illegalities,” signaling tighter enforcement as reforms roll out. US-Cuba Dialogue Stalled: Díaz-Canel says talks with Washington are stalled and insists there can be no dialogue “under oppression,” amid new US sanctions targeting Cuban sectors. China’s Practical Help: Cuba’s ambassador to China highlighted Chinese-made electric tricycles used for Havana trash collection, framing the support as part of an energy-transition lifeline. Regional Business/Industry Ripples: A Cuban couple was detained in Suriname in a case tied to the disappearance of a film producer, underscoring how Cuban nationals can get caught in cross-border investigations. Culture & Industry Link: Venezuela took part in FILHAV 2026, with publishing and cultural-economy activity tied to Cuba’s book-fair ecosystem.

Cuba Sanctions Pressure: The U.S. extended the decades-old trade embargo on Cuba for another year, keeping restrictions in place until Sept. 14, 2027, as Havana grapples with an energy crunch and fuel disruptions. Education Under Strain: Cuba’s 2026–27 school year is set to start Sept. 1 across general education, with universities resuming too, but officials cite fuel, transport, power outages, and supply limits pushing schools toward flexible local solutions. Local Economy & Food Costs: A Camagüey report highlights how rising prices in private shops and a failing regulated basket are pushing families toward micro, small, and medium enterprises and self-employment—while also fueling complaints about abusive pricing. Energy Theft Warning: Holguín warns of an “epidemic” of oil thefts from transformers, reporting 28 cases this year. UNEAC Cultural Push: In Holguín, the José Martí Cultural Society and UNEAC plan “The Martí Hour” on Sept. 4–5, turning a writers’ and artists’ hub into a regional center for books and creation.

Power & Water Protests: A new pot-banging demonstration hit Jaimanitas in Havana’s Playa on Aug. 24, with clashes reported between residents and regime supporters amid “no electricity, no water” complaints. State Media Spin: In a Folha de S.Paulo interview, Díaz-Canel repeated familiar “energy blockade” and “genocide” framing, dodging direct questions while leaning on rehearsed talking points. Energy Transition Under Pressure: With Cuba’s fuel blockade driving frequent blackouts, solar is spreading—but remains unaffordable for most; one Havana family says panels cost about $4,000, while the government expands solar parks and hospital installations. Industrial/Environmental Update: Holguín engineering firm Vertice replaced ozone-depleting R-22 with R-407A in air-conditioning units and earned provincial recognition for the upgrade. Policy Debate: Commentator Ulises Toirac challenged the regime’s “capitalist vs socialist” labels, arguing the real test is whether measures work, not ideology. Sanctions & Business Climate: Multiple reports highlight the tightening squeeze on Cuba’s economy and services, with the latest U.S. moves again targeting entities tied to key sectors.

Cuban Energy Upgrade: Holguín’s Cueto BESS battery storage project has entered final assembly (50 MW), with load tests expected soon to stabilize the National Electric System as solar capacity expands. Electricity Theft Crackdown: Holguín reported an “epidemic” of oil thefts from transformers, with 28 cases this year, underscoring pressure on the grid. Sanctions Pressure on Industry: Multiple reports say the U.S. has tightened sanctions on Cuba, including state entities tied to mining, construction, and foreign trade—aimed at constraining strategic sectors and private investment. Banking and Market Access: Cuba’s National Assembly demanded new measures after banking failures, while Bandec in Matanzas is set to analyze cash withdrawals and deposits—signals of tighter controls amid shortages. Food Supply Strain: Cuba’s food crisis board is citing pork prices up to 1,400 pesos per pound, reflecting ongoing affordability stress. Security and Social Fallout: Cubalex documented 37 homicides in July plus a rise in repression and violence around power outages, linking public insecurity to service collapse. Sports Talent Shift: Cuban pitcher Brander Guevara severed ties with the Cuban Baseball Federation and will continue his career independently, drawing MLB-area scouting interest.

Cuba’s energy and industry strain: Holguín reports an “epidemic” of dielectric oil thefts from transformers, with 28 cases this year and outages hitting thousands—another blow to the power grid and local production. Sanctions pressure on the economy: Multiple reports highlight the U.S. tightening Cuba sanctions, including new measures targeting mining and construction-linked entities and officials, as Havana says Washington is blocking efforts to open the economy to private investment. Fuel crisis hits services and education: Cuba’s universities will start the 2026-27 academic year on Sept. 1 with fewer in-person sessions, more distance learning, and teaching shifted toward municipalities due to worsening fuel supply and transport limits. Banking controls for private business cash: Bandec in Matanzas begins case-by-case limits on how much cash private firms can withdraw, prioritizing food production and marketing actors based on deposits and transaction behavior. Tourism jobs under strain: Economic crisis leaves thousands jobless in Cuba’s tourism industry. Cuban school-year rollout: The Education Minister says the new school year will be a “celebration,” while local coverage underscores ongoing shortages and uneven readiness.

US Sanctions vs Cuba’s Economic Opening: Cuba’s UN ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán says Washington keeps adding sanctions even as Havana pushes reforms to attract private investment, arguing the latest penalties target state industries and “escape valves” while worsening blackouts, transport cuts, infrastructure damage, and shortages. Power Theft and Grid Sabotage: In Matanzas, a technician at the Electric Company in Jovellanos was arrested after allegedly selling illegal electricity connections that overloaded and blew a transformer supplying 50+ homes; authorities frame it as sabotage under a “zero tolerance” drive. Transport Disruption—Rail Freight Accident: A derailment on the Havana–Santiago line near Piedrecita in Camagüey interrupted service; reports say the freight included containers tied to CMA CGM, a firm that suspended Cuba shipments amid US sanctions threats. Local Business Export Push: Villa Clara is urging SMEs to apply for an export “Booster Program” to reach Europe and North America, with training on standards, tariffs, incoterms, traceability, and financing for agri-food and other sectors. Energy Crisis Workarounds Hit by Theft: Solar streetlights installed in Santiago de Cuba were stolen within weeks, plunging busy avenues back into darkness and deepening strain during ongoing outages. Higher Education Adjusts to Fuel Limits: Universities in Santiago de Cuba will start the 2026-27 year Sept. 1 with decentralized hybrid and distance learning, using municipal teaching centers and more frequent local in-person sessions where possible.

US Sanctions Pressure: U.S. authorities detained Americans returning from Cuba tied to Fidel Castro centenary events, with secondary inspections at Miami airport and warnings that dealings with Cuban state-linked businesses could trigger legal action. Power & Theft: Granma’s Electric Company admitted internal workers were involved in stealing dielectric oil and stripping components from photovoltaic sites, while Santiago de Cuba reported solar streetlights stolen days after installation, worsening blackout-era street darkness. Energy Access in Crisis: Villa Clara says it now has 46 operational “solineras” solar charging stations to help residents during 20-hour outages, while the SEN “kitipón” reality check shows how “four hours on, ten minutes off” is reshaping daily life. Food Prices & Markets: Villa Clara inspectors reported abusive pricing and forced sales/closures under capped prices, and a pork price board highlighted how meat is becoming a luxury. Labor Reform: Cuba’s new Labor Code modernizes rules for remote work and the private sector but keeps the right to strike unrecognized and preserves CTC union monopoly. Transport & Trade: Holguín and Las Tunas received new Yutong buses for interprovincial Havana routes, and Villa Clara urged SMEs to apply for an export booster program targeting Europe and North America. Higher Education: Santiago de Cuba universities start the 2026-27 year on Sept. 1 with hybrid/distance learning and decentralized in-person sessions to reduce travel strain.

Food Prices Under Strain: A pork price board circulating on Facebook shows pork cuts at about 1,400 CUP per pound (with lard higher), underscoring how meat is becoming a luxury as incomes lag. Retail Innovation in Crisis: In Granma, the Agroindustrial Grains Company (Granmax) is training staff to launch Bayamec.cu, a virtual store for cereals and grains while state markets stay empty. Labor Law Update: Cuba’s new Labor Code (Law 189) modernizes rules for remote work and the non-state sector, but keeps the strike ban and union monopoly, leaving workers without key rights. Power Sector Theft Crackdown: Granma’s electric company says some workers are implicated in stealing dielectric oil and components from photovoltaic installations, promising penalties and tighter controls. Energy Transition in Telecom: Holguín’s ETECSA reports progress adding solar systems to keep landline and Nauta Hogar services running during fuel shortages. Sanctions Hit Construction and Mining: The U.S. expands sanctions to Cuba’s Ministry of Construction and state firms tied to mining/metals/foreign trade, plus ICAP-linked officials, as Cuba protests that sanctions block the private-investment opening. Education Pressure at Home: As the school year starts Sept. 1, Cuban mothers say they may keep children out without electricity, food, and basic conditions, citing widespread power cuts and missed school meals. International Solidarity: Namibia’s Kavango West Regional Council pledges support to Cuba via a “Namibians in Solidarity with the People of Cuba” campaign.