Trump Threatens ‘Secondary Tariffs’ on Countries Buying Venezuelan Oil:

Former President Donald Trump has proposed a new method of economic pressure, warning of “secondary tariffs” on nations that continue to purchase oil and gas from Venezuela. The announcement was made through a Truth Social post and later formalized in an executive order.

According to the order, any country that imports Venezuelan oil may face a 25% tariff on its U.S. trade, effective April 2. Trump said the policy aims to penalize Venezuela for allegedly sending "tens of thousands" of criminals to the U.S.

A Hybrid Between Tariffs and Secondary Sanctions

The proposed “secondary tariffs” combine elements of traditional tariffs and secondary sanctions. While secondary sanctions punish foreign entities for doing business with sanctioned countries, this approach adds direct trade penalties. Trump’s strategy may affect nations like Spain, India, and particularly China, which is a major buyer of Venezuelan oil on the black market.

Francisco Monaldi of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy called the measure “a new concept in economic warfare,” but questioned how it would be enforced.

Targeting China and Other Buyers of Venezuelan Oil

Although the order doesn’t list all affected countries, it specifically names China, including its regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Other nations currently receive U.S. licenses to purchase limited amounts of Venezuelan oil through Chevron, Repsol, and Reliance.

Experts believe China is the main target of this new tariff strategy, as it plays a central role in Venezuela’s oil trade, especially through unofficial channels.

Tariffs Over Sanctions: Trump’s Strategy

Trump’s administration appears to prefer tariffs over financial sanctions. He has previously criticized sanctions for potentially weakening the U.S. dollar, while promoting tariffs as a flexible tool that can generate revenue and apply negotiation pressure.

According to Josh Lipsky from the Atlantic Council, Trump views tariffs not only as sanctions but also as leverage and a financial gain, even when they don’t immediately lead to policy changes from targeted countries.

Precedent and Policy Intentions

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined three ways Trump uses tariffs: to gain negotiating power, generate revenue (especially to fund tax cuts), and correct trade imbalances. Trump has previously threatened tariffs and sanctions against countries like Colombia to push compliance with U.S. immigration policies.

Peter Harrell, a former National Security Council adviser, noted Trump’s preference for tariffs as a “win-win” solution: either other countries comply, or the U.S. collects tariff revenue.

What Happens Next?

Starting April 2, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will determine which countries may face the 25% tariff for importing Venezuelan oil. The administration’s focus appears to be enforcing foreign policy through economic influence rather than traditional sanctions.