Faced with the tightening of the economic blockade imposed by the United States (USA), the Cuban government is debating a broad package of reforms with the aim of activating the island's economy and transforming the current economic and social model.  The changes under debate envision changes in fiscal, exchange rate, foreign trade and subsidies policies, in addition to a “restructuring” of the Cuban State, with political decentralization and economic liberalization. All this with the promise of maintaining the objective of promoting social justice and combating social inequalities.  Related news: In new sanctions, the US targets a mining company and the president of Cuba. Cuba counters USA: Cuban companies were built against blockade. The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba called, for this Wednesday (17), an extraordinary meeting of the party's Central Committee to evaluate the proposals for economic and social transformation announced last week by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The proposal still needs to be approved by the Cuban National Assembly. Citing the examples of China and Vietnam, countries that claim to develop “market socialism”, Cuban President Díaz-Canel stated that the reforms seek to resolve “old contradictions” between the central planning of the economy, characteristic of the Cuban model, and the incentives that the market would need to have to stimulate production. "What must be dedicated to the country's central planning? What, strategically, must it attend to? And, with everything else, other levels are unlocked and given powers so that they can carry out their own activity", commented Díaz-Canel to the press in Havana.  At the same time, the Cuban president said that the planned reform maintains the commitment to distributing wealth with social justice. “But, if we don’t have wealth, it is very difficult to be able to advance the social program and address the inequalities that have been created”, he added. The economic and social program includes more than 20 measures with the aim of encouraging direct foreign investment, expanding the management autonomy of state-owned companies, decentralizing political decisions, increasing the power of municipalities, in addition to expanding the possibilities for shareholder participation in Cuban companies. The reform also foresees changes in the tourism, one of the main sectors in the country of 11 million inhabitants, and real estate, as well as changes in the economy's subsidy system. “We will gradually move forward, eliminating product subsidies and implementing subsidies for people, with special attention to those who need it most”, he added. Municipal and business autonomy President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted that the reforms should grant greater autonomy for the management of state-owned companies and municipalities and provinces. The objective is to allow operations in the economic area without the need for prior authorization from the country's central command. “That the municipality has the possibility of importing, exporting and does not depend on central plans, that the municipality can manage the inflow of individuals, stimulate and manage direct foreign investment”, commented the president. Díaz-Canel added that the reform under debate should increase the autonomy of state-owned companies, which would begin to define their own internal policies, providing for “a lot of participation by workers in these companies”. “This also means that companies will design their investments, their salary system, they will have unlimited possibilities, without restrictions”, he said. According to the head of state in Havana, companies will be free to import and export, hire and receive foreign investment. “[Companies] will be able to form associations with any type of economic actor, they will decide who their customers will be,” added Miguel Díaz-Canel. The president of Cuba also announced the liberalization of the foreign exchange market, currently in the hands of the central government, with forecasts of cases in which people and companies can directly participate in this market. Restructuring of the Cuban State Michel Díaz-Canel added that the reform under discussion also provides for the restructuring of the State apparatus and state-owned companies, with reductions in the structure of ministries and positions in public administration so that there is, in his opinion, “less bureaucracy”. “This will also result in savings in budget spending that will be available to support social programs or support salary reform,” he said, adding that the reform provides that each company must define its salary system “based on the income it is capable of generating.” Among the objectives of the change would be the provision that the public budget will not be used to “finance the inefficiency of the state company”. Agriculture and foreign trade Cuba's economic and social reform program also foresees changes in the agriculture sector, with the aim of increasing food production and reducing the amount of idle land. “That the producer also has access to the [agricultural] input market, both in foreign currency and in national currency, that the producer also has access to the foreign exchange market,” stated the Cuban president. The reform foresees changes in foreign trade rules, increasing export and import possibilities. “In fact, the possibility is being evaluated that there is a group of entities, which practice foreign trade, that may have accounts in other countries.” Non-state activities and shareholding The economic and social reform planned by the Cuban State provides incentives for non-state companies, which already operate in Cuba with limitations. According to Miguel, the proposal is to limit the prohibited activities of private companies.   "In other words, that its objects are as broad as possible and that they can develop the greatest number of activities. All with clear rules and within the legality. The possibilities for shareholding will also be wider", he said. The head of government added that the objective is to encourage economic association relations between state-owned and private companies, with incentives for direct foreign investment. “All of this is within a stable legal framework that guarantees security for businesses over time, that is respectful, safe and that, above all, encourages and stimulates the participation of these actors”, he said. Economic blockade suffocates Cuba  The economic blockade against Cuba, which has lasted almost 70 years, was tightened by the current White House administration at the end of 2025, following the naval restrictions imposed on Venezuela, which, until then, was the main supplier of oil to the Caribbean island.  In January 2026, the US increased the blockade by threatening anyone selling oil to Cuba with sanctions. The new measure led the country of 11 million inhabitants to go three months without receiving a drop of oil. In recent weeks, the US State Department has increased pressure against Cuba with new sanctions on the tourism and gold mining sectors and against the state-owned oil company. The measures have led hotel and mining companies to announce their departure from Cuba.  The White House's measures have caused an increase in blackouts, an increase in the prices of basic products, a reduction in public transport and the supply of the basic food basket subsidized by the State. For residents of Havana consulted by Agência Brasil, this is the worst moment in the country.