About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

1 1 (May 23, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govehnb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions

For over 15 years, the United States has imposed sanctions
in response to activities of the Venezuelan government and
Venezuelan individuals. The earliest sanctions imposed
related to Venezuela's lack of cooperation on antidrug and
counterterrorism efforts. The Obama Administration
imposed targeted sanctions against individuals for human
rights abuses, corruption, and antidemocratic actions. The
Trump Administration expanded economic sanctions in
response to the increasing authoritarianism of President
Nicolas Maduro (in power since 2013).
After recognizing Juan Guaid6, president of the
democratically elected, opposition-led National Assembly,
as interim president, the Trump Administration further
tightened sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company
(Petr6leos de Venezuela, S.A., or PdVSA), central bank,
and government to pressure Maduro to leave power.
As of May 23, 2022, the Treasury Department had imposed
sanctions on roughly 166 Venezuelan or Venezuelan-
connected individuals and the State Department had
revoked the visas of more than 1,000 individuals and their
families. Despite these actions, Maduro remains firmly in
power. While Venezuela is benefitting from high oil prices
due to the Ukraine conflict, sanctions on Russian banks
have hurt its ability to access assets stored in those entities.
The Biden Administration and the Venezuelan opposition
are considering how potential U.S. sanctions relief could
incentivize Maduro to negotiate a path toward free and fair
elections. Rising U.S. oil prices also have put pressure on
U.S. officials to find alternate sources to replace Russian
oil. In 2021, Guaid6 and other opposition leaders formed a
Unity Platform and began negotiations with Maduro
officials; Maduro suspended these talks in October. After a
March 2022 meeting with U.S. officials, Maduro released
two detained Americans and pledged to restart negotiations
with the opposition. In mid-May 2022, the Treasury
Department reportedly slightly loosened restrictions on
Chevron, the last major U.S. oil company operating in
Venezuela, to discuss future operations with PdVSA. U.S.
officials reportedly are considering other measures to
encourage negotiations. Chevron reportedly has requested
for its current Treasury license, which expires on June 1,
2022, to be expanded, so Chevron could increase oil
production at its joint venture projects with PdVSA. It is
reportedly unlikely that Treasury will do so.
Terrorism-Related Sanctions
Since 2006, the Secretary of State has made an annual
determination that Venezuela is not cooperating fully with
United States anti-terrorism efforts pursuant to Section
40A of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2781). The
most recent determination was made in May 2022. As a

Updated May 23, 2022

result, the United States has prohibited all U.S. commercial
arms sales and retransfers to Venezuela since 2006.
In 2008, Treasury imposed financial sanctions on two
individuals and two travel agencies in Venezuela for
financially supporting the radical Lebanon-based Islamic
Shiite group Hezbollah. Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.)
13224, those sanctions relate to terrorist funding.
Drug Trafficking-Related Sanctions
Since 2005, pursuant to procedures in the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, FY2003 (P.L. 107-228, §706; 22 U.S.C.
2291j), the President has made an annual determination that
Venezuela has failed demonstrably to adhere to its
obligations under international narcotics agreements.
President Biden made the determination for FY2022 in
September 2021 but waived foreign aid restrictions for
programs that support the interim government.
Treasury has imposed economic sanctions on at least 22
individuals with connections to Venezuela and 27
companies by designating them as Specially Designated
Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics
Kingpin Designation Act (P.L. 106-120, Title VIII; 21
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.). Designated individuals include current
and former Venezuelan officials, such as Oil Minister
Tareck al Aissami. Should Al Aissami remain in that
position, it could complicate efforts to lift oil sanctions.
Targeted Sanctions Related to Antidemocratic
Actions, Human Rights Violations, and Corruption
In response to increasing repression in Venezuela, Congress
enacted the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil
Society Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-278; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
Among its provisions, the law required the President to
impose sanctions against those whom the President
identified as responsible for significant acts of violence,
serious human rights abuses, or antidemocratic actions.
Congress extended this act through 2023 in P.L. 116-94.
In March 2015, President Obama issued E.O. 13692 to
implement P.L. 113-278, and Treasury issued regulations in
July 2015 (31 C.F.R. Part 591). The E.O. targets (for asset
blocking and visa restrictions) those involved in actions or
policies undermining democratic processes or institutions;
serious human rights abuses; prohibiting, limiting, or
penalizing freedom of expression or peaceful assembly; and
public corruption. It includes any person who is a current or
former leader of any entity engaged in any of those
activities, as well as current or former government officials.
As of January 19, 2021, Treasury had imposed financial
sanctions on 113 Venezuelans and at least eight entities
pursuant to E.O. 13692. The targeted individuals have
included President Maduro; his wife, Cilia Flores, and son,

https ://crsreports .congr

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most