Venezuela rejects US tariff threat: Confirms the resounding failure of sanctions

Published at: 24/03/2025 04:08 PM

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejected on Monday the new threat posed by the Donald Trump Administration in the United States (USA), which “intends to impose a secondary tariff of 25% on any country that trades” with the South American nation in oil and gas.

In a statement, released by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, Venezuela said that “this arbitrary, illegal and desperate measure, far from affecting our determination, confirms the resounding failure of all the sanctions imposed against our country.”

Below is the full text of the document:

Venezuela's course is clear, nothing and no one will stop us

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically rejects the new aggression announced by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, who intends to impose a secondary tariff of 25% on any country that trades with Venezuela in the field of oil and gas. This arbitrary, illegal and desperate measure, far from affecting our determination, confirms the resounding failure of all the sanctions imposed against our country.

For years, the fascist right, repudiated by the Venezuelan people, has promoted economic sanctions with the illusion of surrendering to Venezuela. They have failed. They failed because Venezuela is a sovereign country, because its people have resisted with dignity and because the world is no longer subject to any scheme of economic dictatorship. Today, that same failed strategy seeks to be reissued with coercive measures that seek to undermine the development of our nation.

With this new action, the United States flagrantly violates international trade rules, in particular:

• The Most Favored Nation principle (Article I of GATT 1994), which prohibits discrimination between business partners.

• The prohibition of quantitative restrictions (Article XI of GATT 1994), which prevents the imposition of disguised trade barriers.

• The principle of non-discrimination and fair treatment, enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement established by the WTO.

These rules were created precisely to prevent one country from using trade as a weapon of political pressure against others. Venezuela will take all appropriate actions before international organizations to assert its rights and denounce this new violation of the world economic order.

Despite these aggressions, Venezuela remains firm on its path. Our country is moving forward on its path of growth and prosperity, together with a people that has resisted with dignity and has defeated every attempt at subjugation promoted by ever extremists. They have not been able and will not be able to stop us. The policy of maximum pressure has failed in Venezuela and in the world.

The self-determination of our people, who have always grown up in difficulties and who proudly claim their status as heir to the glories of America's greatest liberator: Simon Bolivar.

Caracas, March 24, 2025

Mazo News Team