US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs targeting nations purchasing oil and gas from Venezuela.
On 24 March, Trump declared that the US would impose an additional 25% tariff from 2 April on countries importing oil from Venezuela, impacting both direct and indirect buyers.
“Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the freedoms we uphold. Any country purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela will have to pay a 25% tariff to the US on any trade they conduct with us,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
This new “secondary tariff” will be added to the existing duties, further tightening economic pressure on Venezuela.
In his announcement, Trump claimed that Venezuela has been deliberately sending criminals to the US, which he cited as one of the “numerous reasons” for imposing the tariff.
The decision, which could further destabilize global trade, is also expected to affect major importers like China, possibly disrupting supply chains.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has actively imposed tariffs on both US allies and rivals, using trade policies as leverage for economic and diplomatic negotiations.
The final decision on implementing the new levy will be determined by the US Secretary of State in consultation with other government agencies.