US sanctions on Venezuela are largely symbolic
The oil market was waiting for an embargo. But a full blockade would have hurt American firms too
Donald Trump's administration threatened "strong and swift economic sanctions" if Nicolás Maduro went ahead with his power-grab-by-plebiscite. The Venezuelan president did—and the US response was heavy in symbolism, but light in effect. The oil sanctions awaited by the market did not happen. US officials called Maduro a "dictator", and added his name to a growing list of Venezuelans, and a short list of heads of state, under American sanctions. Maduro's assets in the US, if he has any, are frozen and no Americans are allowed to do business with him. But the oil industry, Maduro's biggest vulnerability, was untouched. Some kind of embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in the US' arsenal, but it n
Also in this section
3 May 2024
Upcoming elections are likely to deliver a win for the party of president Andres Lopez Obrador, but analysts differ over to what degree his successor will stick to his energy policies
2 May 2024
Faster-than-expected economic growth fails to mask macro imbalances and shifting structural oil product trends
1 May 2024
Energean CEO Mathios Rigas looks to results of critical Anchois appraisal well
30 April 2024
While its regional neighbours reap the rewards of oil and gas success, Iraq’s hydrocarbons sector is lagging behind