By Collin Eaton and Alex Leary
WASHINGTON -- President Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on any country that purchases oil or gas from Venezuela, an arrangement that could allow Chevron to continue to do business there.
Trump didn't mention Chevron in a social-media post Monday, but the company had lobbied for a reversal of an administration decision to revoke its license to operate in Venezuela. The tariff idea was discussed during a White House meeting last week with Trump and Chevron Chief Executive Mike Wirth.
The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for additional details. Chevron declined to comment. The Treasury Department on Monday hadn't announced any new policy changes specific to Chevron.
Trump described the move as a "secondary tariff" on Venezuela over the flow of migrants to the U.S., including members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The Trump administration has said it is deporting alleged members of the gang as part of its deportation efforts. Venezuela over the weekend said it would resume repatriation of migrants after suspending such flights because of the withdrawal of the Chevron license.
"Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse," Trump wrote. "Therefore, any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country."
The measure would go into effect on April 2, Trump said, the same day he intends to impose reciprocal tariffs on a targeted set of nations.
The Biden administration granted Chevron a license to resume operations in Venezuela in 2022, after the first Trump administration had barred the company from the Latin American country during a so-called maximum pressure campaign to oust strongman Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration last month signaled it would give Chevron 30 days to leave, ending its operations there in early April.
The Trump administration hasn't said whether it plans to extend Chevron's license to pump oil in Venezuela, an idea discussed at last week's White House meeting. Some senior officials in Trump's administration still oppose allowing Chevron to pump oil in the country.
Write to Collin Eaton at collin.eaton@wsj.com and Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com
Comment(26)
Huh
Another Hitler is on the way!
Why is Venezuelan?
No worries he’s only hitler for a day?! 🤥
what a scum
Are you guys Venezuelans? The oppressed Venezuelans applaud these measures which is the majority.
This guy is looking for trouble
What about any country buying oil from Iran???
sounds like a desperate 🤔
How TF do you even enforce this
Can you elaborate? I don't know how this would be good
they really wanted keep limiting the supply of oil.
Literally, WHO voted for this guy?? I have yet to meet anyone in real life who will actually admit to marking his name on the ballot. FOR EITHER ELECTION!
Most idiotic president ever
these guys are just trump haters, they could care less about the greater good
its good because then Nations will rethink if its worth buying oil from a Narco/Terrorist government which is what Venezuelas regime is.
So is this country Trump said as much in an interview a few years back he said America kills more people who don’t agree with its policies when primed for an answer about Putin’s Russia.
China should begin buying since their tariff is more than 25%
What area do you live in? West coast or etc?
Technically we're the biggest terrorist around, but they say we need to stay safe. The concern is in the last 20 years they've been lying about a lot of war. It bothers me.
So countries are forced to buy from his dictator idol, Putin.
What the devil happened in the last 24 hours to establish a new tariff law under this new dictator?
banned that Venezuela evil govt !
all mafias use extortion as a means of doing business.
What about other countries buying Oil & Gas from Russia? N Korea, India, China, etc..
25% tariffs coming their way???
Reciprocal tariffs will kicked in..Countries will buy alternatives (no American products) as 1st choice.
This chap thinks he’s a genius economist. Well his administration will learn the hard way.
He thinks he’s the most genius economist the world ever has. Next 4 years will be mayhem for America.
The world may be affected but life goes on. There will be recessions on rolling basis.
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