Trump's Tariffs Hit Countries Buying Oil from Venezuela

The US government has introduced a 25% tariff on all countries that purchase oil or gas from Venezuela, marking a new chapter in international trade relations.

The measure, set to take effect on so-called Liberation Day (April 2), was formalised by an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, who cited national security concerns and regional instability. 

While the tariff does not directly target Venezuelan products imported by the US, it applies to any country that trades with Venezuela in the energy sector or indirectly through third parties and also engages in commercial relations with the US. Analysts have described the move as having unprecedented extraterritorial effects within the multilateral trade system. 

Diverging views among economists 

The measure has sparked debate among economists. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro supports the use of tariffs as strategic instruments of foreign policy. 

“Tariffs are a foreign policy tool," he told Fox Business. "When countries undermine international norms or threaten our security, we have every right to respond with strength."

Conversely, Dani Rodrik, Professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School, expressed concern over the growing use of unilateral trade measures. Dani warns that these actions may weaken institutional trust and global legal frameworks. 

“Unilateral measures with extraterritorial impact compromise the legitimacy of global institutions and erode the predictability needed in international trade,” he wrote in a recent article. 

Institutional response

Against a backdrop of increasing regulatory complexity and frequent policy shifts, regional institutions are emphasising the need for coordinated, technically sound responses. 

ASAPRA, the International Association of Professional Customs Agents, which includes member organisations across the Americas, Europe and Africa, has underscored the importance of maintaining the technical integrity of customs operations, especially in periods of regulatory volatility. 

“This is not about judging sovereign decisions," said Marcelo de Castro Ferreira, Head of Institutional Marketing at ASAPRA. "It is about recognising that the pace of change in global trade requires customs operators to be continuously informed, agile and technically prepared."

He added: “The global landscape has shifted. Customs processes must be able to absorb regulatory changes quickly and apply new rules with technical rigor and operational consistency.” 

Digital platforms able to support compliance and automation in customs operations are set to become crucial.

One such example is Publican World, which ASAPRA helped to develop in collaboration with customs experts and with technical support from Ultra. Using AI, the platform is intended to strengthen the technical foundations of customs integrity, providing tools to ensure that operators can meet international standards efficiently—even in unpredictable regulatory environments.  

Risk of systemic disruption 

While the aforementioned tariff primarily targets energy flows, its indirect effects could ripple across other sectors, prompting contract revisions, logistics realignments and increased legal scrutiny. 

ASAPRA emphasises that customs and trade-related institutions must act with clarity and coordination, ensuring that legitimate trade flows are not undermined by procedural gaps or delayed responses to regulatory changes. 

Ultimately, the US decision to impose a 25% tariff on countries trading with Venezuela highlights the growing complexity of global trade dynamics and the critical need for fast, informed and coordinated technical responses. 

Rather than focusing solely on one measure, the broader challenge lies in strengthening national compliance systems and fostering international cooperation, so that customs operations remain lawful, stable and transparent, even amid geopolitical uncertainty. 

ASAPRA added: "Our goal is to ensure that customs actors across all member countries are technically equipped to navigate and respond to changes in global trade swiftly and confidently."

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