US Tariff Pressure & DR Trade: A new White House report flags the Dominican Republic among 40+ countries with elevated “transshipment” risk, alleging Chinese exporters reroute goods through third countries to dodge U.S. tariffs—an issue that could reshape regional trade flows and compliance costs. Diplomacy & Cuba: The Dominican Republic ordered nine Cuban diplomatic officials (and families) to leave, drawing a sharp rejection from Cuba and raising geopolitical tension tied to U.S.-backed regional initiatives. Energy Resilience: ETED says large-scale battery storage (BESS) is being integrated to stabilize the national grid and improve restart capability after major outages, as demand and new generation ramp up. Digital Sovereignty: Economic Affairs Minister Jerome Fitzgerald urged the Caribbean to “hold the keys” in digital development, warning against dependency on foreign cloud and platforms. Housing Finance: Banreservas’ ExpoHogar 2026 ended with RD$11.247B+ in approved financing across 2,050 applications, boosting activity in construction and real estate. Electric Mobility in Santo Domingo: A traffic calming pilot starts Aug. 17 in the Colonial City to cut shortcut congestion, with access rules and exemptions for emergency and sanitation vehicles. Coconut Push: DR’s first Coconut Summit (DominiCoco) highlights growth potential for the sector, citing thousands of producers and rising global demand. Cruise & Ports: Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales was named a finalist for Seatrade Cruise Awards 2026, reflecting rapid cruise growth since 2024.