Trump Imposes Tariffs on Countries Buying from Venezuela

Trump imposes tariffs on countries buying from Venezuela
As reported by El Cronista
Here are the details

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday the imposition of 25% tariffs on countries conducting commercial transactions involving the purchase of oil or gas from Venezuela.

This measure, set to take effect on April 2, aims—according to Trump—to put pressure on the Venezuelan government and protect the United States from what he described as threats originating from the South American country.

In a statement posted to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump explained that any commercial transaction between third-party countries and Venezuela involving the purchase of oil and/or gas will trigger a 25% tariff when trading with the United States.

This controversial decision, labeled a “secondary tariff,” has sparked mixed reactions across the international community.

Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Countries Buying Oil or Gas from Venezuela

Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Countries Buying Oil or Gas from Venezuela – ► https://t.co/t4kaogdlwi pic.twitter.com/kd9bsgccac

– Hondudiario.com (@hondudiario) March 24, 2025

The president justified the move by alleging that Venezuela had intentionally and fraudulently sent “tens of thousands of high-level criminals and other offenders” into the United States.

Among the groups mentioned by Trump is Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization that was recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Trump stated that his administration is working on deporting these individuals back to Venezuela, though he acknowledged that it is “an enormous task.”

In his message, Trump also accused Venezuela of maintaining a hostile attitude toward the United States and the democratic principles and freedoms that, in his words, the U.S. represents.
“Venezuela has shown a very hostile attitude toward the United States and the freedoms we stand for,” the president declared.

A Decision with Significant Impact

Trump announces 25% tariffs on countries buying oil from Venezuela https://t.co/jdhsdmhf7m

— América 24Horas (@America_24Horas) March 24, 2025

The decision to impose a 25% tariff could have a significant impact on international trade, particularly for countries that rely on Venezuelan energy imports.

The measure could also escalate diplomatic tensions between the United States and nations that continue to maintain commercial ties with Nicolás Maduro’s government.

This action adds to a series of sanctions and punitive measures that Washington has imposed on Venezuela in recent years, as part of an effort to weaken Maduro’s administration, which the Trump administration has labeled as illegitimate.

However, critics of this policy warn that such actions could further worsen the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis affecting the Venezuelan people.

International Response to Trump’s Tariffs

Meanwhile, international observers are closely watching how countries currently purchasing energy from Venezuela will respond—and whether they will seek alternatives to avoid the impact of these new tariffs.

The announcement has also raised questions about the potential economic and political consequences within the United States itself, particularly in sectors that depend on energy trade, and amid growing political polarization in the country.

With this move, the Trump administration reaffirms its hardline stance against Venezuela—combining economic sanctions with combative rhetoric—as a new chapter begins in the already tense relations between the two nations.

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