China issued a strong demand this week for President Donald Trump to cancel his newly announced tariffs on trade partners that buy oil or gas from Venezuela. The Chinese foreign ministry claimed the plan unfairly penalizes countries and interferes in Venezuela’s affairs.
Trump revealed Monday that a 25% tariff will be applied to any nation continuing to purchase energy from Venezuela. He said the move was driven by Venezuela’s alleged effort to secretly send violent criminals across the U.S. border.
China facing now 45% tariff increase if it keeps buying Venezuelan oil https://t.co/PNAxddhr75
— Sara Eisen (@SaraEisen) March 24, 2025
In a post on his social platform, Trump said Venezuela had sent “tens of thousands” of individuals into the U.S., including members of a gang now classified as a foreign terrorist organization. He said the goal of the tariffs is to force countries to cut ties with Venezuela’s oil sector.
China is the largest importer of Venezuelan oil, bringing in over half a million barrels each day. Beijing was quick to express outrage over the announcement, calling on the U.S. to stop what it described as unlawful interference.
#FMsays Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has stated that China is resolutely opposed to Washington's fresh threat of tariffs for countries that buy oil or gas from Venezuela and urged the US "to stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs" and to "abolish the illegal… pic.twitter.com/NQZEmsrGDY
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) March 25, 2025
Trump has declared April 2 “Liberation Day” — the date when the new tariff will take effect. It also marks the rollout of other reciprocal trade actions aimed at balancing U.S. trade relationships.
The U.S. should stop interfering in #Venezuela’s domestic affairs and lift unilateral sanctions against the country.
The more #tariffs the U.S. imposes, the more they will cost American businesses and households. pic.twitter.com/KPJnl6sL1i
— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) March 25, 2025
While some Trump administration officials have discussed exemptions for specific industries, the China-Venezuela connection appears to be a main focus. The administration has linked Venezuelan oil profits to the spread of organized crime and border violence in the U.S.
🚨🇺🇸
CHINA ANGRY
The US will place 25% Tariffs onto any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela.
However China is their largest buyer of Oil…
Here's my video covering it: pic.twitter.com/J97d3OyCZ1
— Alex Barnicoat (@AlexBarnicoat_) March 25, 2025
Last weekend, a deportation flight arrived in Caracas with nearly 200 individuals, including members of Tren de Aragua. The flights had resumed after a pause due to disputes between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities.
