Story perspectives

Cuba Unveils 176 Reforms to Counter US Sanctions

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero presented 176 reforms to Cuba's National Assembly.
The reforms allow private real estate, private banks, large firms hiring over 100 workers, and municipal import-export.
They aim to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil blockade and sanctions that caused outages, fuel shortages and a tourism collapse.
Former leader Raúl Castro endorsed the plan, which the Communist Party says does not deviate from socialism, while citizens stayed skeptical.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 the collapse of the Soviet Union plunged Cuba into the “Special Period,” cutting GDP by about 35% and forcing severe shortages. To survive, Fidel Castro’s government approved the 1993 Law of Small and Medium Enterprises, legalizing roughly 100,000 self-employed Cubans. Today Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, with Raúl Castro’s backing, is expanding those reforms through new private-bank and real-estate measures.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero presented 176 reforms to Cuba's National Assembly.
The reforms allow private real estate, private banks, large firms hiring over 100 workers, and municipal import-export.
They aim to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil blockade and sanctions that caused outages, fuel shortages and a tourism collapse.
Former leader Raúl Castro endorsed the plan, which the Communist Party says does not deviate from socialism, while citizens stayed skeptical.

1 / 2