‘Secondary Tariff?’ Trump Slaps 25% on Countries Fueling Venezuelan Regime [WATCH]

President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will impose a 25% tariff on all trade with any country that purchases oil or gas from Venezuela, escalating pressure on the socialist regime and its international business partners.

The tariff, which will take effect April 2, is part of a broader series of reciprocal trade measures the President is expected to unveil on the same day.

The new policy directly targets Venezuela’s ability to generate revenue through energy exports, a major source of funding for the Nicolás Maduro regime.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News ‘Terrifying’

“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday.

The announcement comes as part of the administration’s ongoing effort to weaken the Maduro government and curb the spread of its influence through energy diplomacy.

Venezuela, under Maduro, has maintained oil trade relationships with countries including China, Russia, and Iran—nations often at odds with U.S. interests.

The new 25% tariff will apply broadly to all goods and services traded between the United States and any nation that imports Venezuelan oil or gas.

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It is not limited to energy products and is intended as an economic deterrent to discourage nations from engaging in energy trade with the South American country.

Trump’s message to Venezuela:

‘You sent invaders to my country and now it’s time to pay.’

25% secondary tariffs that will impact ALL TRADE are set to go in effect.

FAFO pic.twitter.com/LtI0NnolGz

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 24, 2025

The move signals a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s strategy to isolate Maduro’s government, which has faced international condemnation for corruption, human rights violations, and a humanitarian crisis that has driven millions of Venezuelans to flee the country.

While the United States has previously imposed direct sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry and restricted U.S. companies from doing business with the state-run oil firm PDVSA, this latest action takes aim at third-party countries that continue to support the regime financially through energy purchases.

The new tariff policy could put pressure on U.S. trade relationships with key global economies that maintain energy ties to Venezuela.

It remains to be seen how those countries will respond to the threat of broad tariffs on all U.S. trade if they continue purchasing Venezuelan energy.

April 2 will mark the formal unveiling of a wider set of reciprocal global tariffs, according to the administration.

Those measures are expected to address broader trade imbalances and retaliatory tariffs that have impacted American industries.

Trump’s economic team has indicated the administration will pursue a hardline stance against what it sees as unfair global trade practices, including those involving hostile or adversarial regimes.

The decision to tie trade penalties directly to Venezuelan energy imports is viewed as part of a strategic effort to isolate the Maduro regime through secondary economic consequences.

The administration has not yet released the full list of countries expected to be affected by the new policy, but a detailed announcement is anticipated during Trump’s April 2 remarks.

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