U.S. Imposes Potential 25% Import Tax on Venezuelan Oil Purchases, Tightening Border Control on Migrants
Mexico City, Mexico, March 24, 2025 - In a surprising move, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on all trade with countries purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela.
Reacting to the measure, Caracas labeled it "arbitrary, illegal, and desperate," alleging that the US was violating international trade agreements. A defiant statement from the Venezuelan government asserted that despite these hostile actions, the country remains on course for economic growth.
The White House alleges that it will once again invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to extradite Venezuelan nationals suspected to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang to Chile. Previously, the US forcibly deported 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, using the same legislation as justification. However, a federal judge blocked the administration from utilizing the statute, stating that those facing deportation should be granted the opportunity to challenge accusations of Tren de Aragua affiliation. Trump officials, however, are seeking an immediate reversal of the ruling from a Washington federal appeals court.
The efforts to deport three Venezuelans to Chile are seen as an attempt to bypass the judge's order, reflecting the Trump administration's aggressive stance on the matter. Venezuela, in response, has organized repatriation flights to bring back migrants to the country, with a recent group of 199 migrants arriving Monday after being deported from the United States via Honduras.
Trump has also recently announced the revocation of legal protections for around half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These migrants arrived in the US under the Biden-era sponsorship process known as "parole," which offered a two-year stay. The migrants have been advised to voluntarily leave the country before the April 24 deadline.
The use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan nationals has sparked significant criticism inside and outside the country. Legal advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have filed lawsuits challenging the deportations, and critics allege that the law should not be applied since the US is not officially at war with Venezuela.
Tensions have been escalating between the US and Venezuela for years, with the US pursuing aggressive regime change strategies, such as economic sanctions, far-right coup plots, and an oil blockade.
The tariff on imports from countries buying oil or gas from Venezuela is set to take effect on April 2, intensifying US efforts to stifle Venezuela’s oil exports. In his social media announcement, Trump accused Venezuela of deliberately sending violent criminals to the US and used the activities of the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US, to justify the move. Analysts, however, have questioned the tariff threats' feasibility since they would require foreign governments to impose restrictions on companies operating in their territories.
China, as the largest purchaser of Venezuelan oil, is expected to be heavily impacted, potentially altering global oil trade dynamics. Other countries importing oil from Venezuela will also face tariffs, which could lead to a broader reassessment of trade relationships among affected nations. The use of "secondary tariffs" as a policy tool might set a precedent for future sanctions or trade disputes.
Trade disruptions and shifts in the global oil market are likely, with implications for oil prices and supply chains. The situation remains fluid, and as it unfolds, the interplay of geopolitics, economics, and global trade will be closely watched.
- The Venezuelan government, in a defiant statement, affirmed that despite the 25% tariff imposed by the US on all trade with countries purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela, the country will continue to grow economically.
- In 2025, the US administration announced its intention to revoke legal protections for around half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, including those who arrived under the Biden-era sponsorship process called "parole."
- Critics, including legal advocacy groups like the ACLU, have challenged the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan nationals, arguing that it should not be applied since the US is not officially at war with Venezuela.
- China, as the largest purchaser of Venezuelan oil, and other countries importing oil from Venezuela, will face tariffs under the US policy, potentially leading to a reassessment of trade relationships among affected nations.
- Analysts have questioned the feasibility of the tariff threats, as they might require foreign governments to impose restrictions on companies operating within their territories, and could set a precedent for future sanctions or trade disputes in global politics and policy-and-legislation.
