U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on oil imported from Venezuela. This appears to be a strategy to use additional tariffs as a means to pressure Venezuela.
On the 24th (local time), President Trump warned through his social media platform, Truth Social, that "countries importing oil or gas from Venezuela must pay a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States."
President Trump referred to this tariff as a "secondary tariff" and stated that it would begin on April 2.
President Trump noted that "Venezuela intentionally sent numerous criminals disguised as refugees to the United States," adding that "most of them are murderers and violent criminals."
He added, "We are working on the process of sending back these individuals, including members of violent organizations."
The U.S. government recently deported over 200 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador. The reason for their deportation is that they are members of the Tren de Aragua, an international drug trafficking and violent gang.
Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, released six Americans after a meeting with Richard Grenell, the U.S. President's Special Envoy for North Korea and Venezuela, in January. While there were predictions that relations between the U.S. and Venezuela could improve, the recent decision to impose a secondary tariff suggests that improvement between the two countries is unlikely for the time being.