The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX) announced on Friday the expansion of reasons for which a foreign commercial representation's license can be revoked in Cuba, increasing the total from five to seven. This change marks a significant update from the previous guidelines.
Outlined in Resolution 152/2026, which was published in the Ordinary Official Gazette No. 82 of 2026, Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga revised Article 14 of Resolution 74/2021. This article governs the procedures of the National Register of Foreign Commercial Representations and took effect immediately upon publication.
The new resolution specifies seven grounds for license cancellation: a request by the entity itself; termination or resolution of the agency or representation contract; unjustified failure to pay the registration fee; dissolution, liquidation, or extinction of the commercial entity; lack of interest in renewal within the specified period; renewal denied due to failure to maintain the conditions that justified the original granting; and actions contrary to current regulations, public order, or national interest.
The newly added reasons compared to the previous regulation are the dissolution, liquidation, or extinction of the commercial entity and an equivalent situation of its parent company. This latter cause had been incorporated days earlier into Decree 32/2021—the sector's framework regulation—through Decree 183/2026 issued by the Council of Ministers on September 21; Resolution 152/2026 now provides procedural development for this.
Procedures for License Cancellation
The regulation distinguishes between two procedural paths depending on the reason for cancellation. For the first five reasons—entity request, contract termination, non-payment, dissolution or extinction, and renewal neglect—the Registrar can execute the cancellation within seven working days without needing a ministerial resolution, informing MINCEX or the Ministry of Tourism, as appropriate, within the following ten days.
However, if the cancellation arises from a denied renewal or actions contrary to regulations, a more formal process is required. This involves issuing a ministerial resolution, which is then sent to the Registrar for immediate notification to the interested party and communication to the governing bodies within the same ten-day period.
Moreover, the resolution mandates supervisory and control bodies to convey the results of inspections conducted on representative offices, branches, and agents to the Registrar, including the measures taken in each case.
Comprehensive Legal Reform for Foreign Representations
The Ordinary Gazette No. 82 of 2026 consolidates five legal norms that altogether reform the legal framework for foreign representations in Cuba. These include Decree Law 137/2026 by the Council of State concerning the hiring of workers, Decree 183/2026 by the Council of Ministers, Resolution 151/2026 by MINCEX regarding non-commercial goods importation, and Resolution 62/2026 by the Ministry of Labor on the employment regime for hired personnel.
This suite of regulations is part of the 176 economic reform measures that Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz presented to the National Assembly in June 2026, focusing on facilitating foreign investment and opening up foreign trade.
Understanding the New Norms for Foreign Companies in Cuba
What are the new reasons for canceling a foreign company's license in Cuba?
The new reasons include the dissolution, liquidation, or extinction of the commercial entity and an equivalent situation of its parent company, in addition to previously existing reasons such as non-payment of fees and contract termination.
How quickly can a license be canceled under the new regulations?
For some reasons, the license can be canceled within seven working days without a ministerial resolution, provided the relevant ministry is informed within ten days.