(Geoff Ramsey – Atlantic Council) What does an “America first” approach to Venezuela look like? The world may be about to find out. On March 24, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order empowering Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods from any country that imports Venezuelan oil and gas, framing the measure as retribution for high levels of outbound migration from Venezuela and the country’s hostility to US interests. As with any recent tariff announcement by Trump, the devil is in the details. Venezuela currently exports oil and gas to a variety of countries, ranging from US rivals such as China and Russia to US allies such as India, Spain, France, and a number of small Caribbean nations. Is Trump interested in slapping an additional 25 percent tariff on Chinese goods sold in the United States, on top of the current 20 percent tariffs? Is he willing to impose tariffs on US allies? And are any of these countries willing to risk those tariffs in order to continue receiving Venezuelan crude oil and gas? All of this remains unclear.
An ‘America first’ approach to Venezuela is taking shape – Atlantic Council
