[House Document 119-32]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress, 1st Session - - - -- - -- - - - - House Document 119-32
TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS WITH REGARD TO THE
NATIONAL EMERGENCY IN VENEZUELA
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO DEAL
WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO VEN-
EZUELA DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13692 OF MARCH 8,
2015, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1703(b); PUBLIC LAW 95-223, SEC.
204(b); (91 STAT. 1627)
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
March 26, 2025.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the Com-
mittees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means, and ordered to be
printed
------
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
59-011 WASHINGTON : 2025
To the Congress of the United States:
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), I hereby report that I have issued an
Executive Order that takes additional steps with respect to the
national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692 of March
8, 2015 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain
Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela).
The Maduro regime's refusal to cooperate with the United
States on matters of illegal immigration exacerbates threats to
public safety and border security. The activities of the Tren
de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization
originating in Venezuela and designated as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist
organization, have intensified these threats. Further, the
Maduro regime's ongoing destabilizing actions, including its
support for illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking,
kidnapping, and human trafficking necessitate further measures
to protect United States interests. All of these actions are
due in part to the oil revenues that the Maduro regime and its
network of criminals and cronies are able to earn.
Effective on April 2, 2025, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary
of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United
States Trade Representative, is authorized to determine whether
a tariff of 25 percent will be imposed on goods from any
country that imports Venezuelan oil. Once imposed at the
Secretary of State's discretion, the tariff shall remain in
effect for a period of 1 year after the last day a country
imports Venezuelan oil, or at an earlier date if the Secretary
of Commerce, in consultation with other relevant heads of
executive departments and agencies, determines it appropriate.
To encourage full accountability for these actions, I have
directed the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce
to submit periodic reports to me within 180 days of the date of
this order and no less than every 180 days thereafter assessing
the effectiveness of the tariffs described in this order and
the ongoing conduct of the Maduro regime.
My Administration will continue to consult with the
Congress on our efforts to address the ongoing problems in
Venezuela that undermine United States interests and look
forward to working on these issues together.
I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
Donald J. Trump.
The White House, March 25, 2025.
Executive Order
----------
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,
including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States
Code, and in view of the national emergency declared with
respect to Venezuela in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015
(Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons
Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela), as continued most
recently in the notice of February 27, 2025 (Continuation of
the National Emergency with Respect to Venezuela), I, DONALD J.
TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the
actions and policies of the regime of Nicolas Maduro in
Venezuela continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat
to the national security and foreign policy of the United
States. The activities of the Tren de Aragua gang, a
transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela
and designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a
Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, have
intensified this threat, as highlighted in Proclamation 10903
of March 14, 2025 (Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act
Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua).
Furthermore, Venezuela's ongoing destabilizing actions,
including its support for illicit activities, necessitate
further economic measures to protect United States interests.
In light of these circumstances, and to address the
continued national emergency with respect to Venezuela that
forms the basis for Executive Order 13692 and subsequent
orders, I hereby order:
Section 1. Findings. (a) The Tren de Aragua gang, a
transnational criminal organization with origins in Venezuela,
has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the
United States due to its extensive involvement in terrorist
activities such as kidnapping and violent attacks, including
the assassination of a Venezuelan opposition figure, that
destabilize communities across the Western Hemisphere. The
prior administration's open-borders policies facilitated the
infiltration of the United States by members of Tren de Aragua,
allowing these dangerous criminals to establish a foothold
within United States cities and prey upon American citizens.
The Maduro regime aided and facilitated the influx of Tren de
Aragua members into the United States during the prior
administration by failing to control its borders, permitting
the gang's operations to flourish within Venezuela, and
refusing to take action against its members, thereby
exacerbating the illegal immigration crisis.
(b) Existing sanctions on Venezuela, including those
imposed in Executive Order 13692, Executive Order 13808 of
August 24, 2017 (Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to
the Situation in Venezuela), Executive Order 13850 of November
1, 2018 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing
to the Situation in Venezuela), and Executive Order 13884 of
August 5, 2019 (Blocking Property of the Government of
Venezuela), remain in effect. The actions and policies of the
Maduro regime that were the basis for those orders continue to
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States. These actions
include:
(i) The systematic undermining of democratic
institutions through the suppression of free and fair
elections and the illegitimate consolidation of power
by the regime of Nicolas Maduro;
(ii) Endemic economic mismanagement and public
corruption at the expense of the Venezuelan people and
their prosperity;
(iii) The regime's responsibility for the deepening
humanitarian and public health crisis in Venezuela; and
(iv) The destabilization of the Western Hemisphere
through the forced migration of millions of
Venezuelans, imposing significant burdens on
neighboring countries.
Sec. 2. Imposition of Tariffs. (a) On or after April 2,
2025, a tariff of 25 percent may be imposed on all goods
imported into the United States from any country that imports
Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly
through third parties. Duties imposed by this order will be
supplemental to duties on imports already imposed pursuant to
IEEPA, section 232 of the Trade Expansion of 1962, section 301
of the Trade Act of 1974, or any other authority.
(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade
Representative, is hereby authorized to determine in his
discretion whether the tariff of 25 percent will be imposed on
goods from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, directly or
indirectly, on or after April 2, 2025.
(c) Once imposed on a country at the Secretary of State's
discretion, the tariff of 25 percent shall expire 1 year after
the last date on which the country imported Venezuelan oil, or
at an earlier date if the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the
Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United
States Trade Representative, so determines at his discretion.
Sec. 3. Administration and Enforcement. (a) The Secretary
of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
and the United States Trade Representative, is hereby
authorized to impose the tariffs established by this order.
(b) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the
Secretary of State and the Attorney General, is hereby
authorized to:
(i) Determine whether a country has imported
Venezuelan oil, directly or indirectly;
(ii) Issue regulations, guidance, and determinations
as necessary to implement this order;
(iii) Coordinate with the heads of other executive
departments and agencies to ensure compliance; and
(iv) Take any additional actions consistent with
applicable law to carry out the purposes of this order.
(c) Any prior Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order,
or other Presidential directive or guidance that is
inconsistent with the direction in this order is hereby
terminated, suspended, or modified to the extent necessary to
give full effect to this order.
(d) Any other Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order,
or other Presidential directive or guidance that applies to
Venezuela or a country subject to a tariff under section 2 of
this order remains in full effect, except to the extent
specified in subsection (c) of this section.
(e) If the Secretary of State, at his discretion, decides
to impose a tariff under section 2 of this order on China, that
tariff shall also apply to both the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative
Region, as a measure to reduce the risk of transshipment and
evasion.
Sec. 4. Reporting and Review. The Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Commerce shall submit periodic reports to the
President, within 180 days of the date of this order and no
less than every 180 days thereafter, assessing the
effectiveness of the tariffs described in this order and the
ongoing conduct of the Maduro regime.
Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this order:
(a) The term ``Venezuelan oil'' means crude oil or
petroleum products extracted, refined, or exported from
Venezuela, regardless of the nationality of the entity involved
in the production or sale of such crude oil or petroleum
products.
(b) The term ``indirectly'' includes purchases of
Venezuelan oil through intermediaries or third countries where
the origin of the oil can reasonably be traced to Venezuela, as
determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
Sec. 6. Effective Date. This order is effective at 12:01
a.m. eastern daylight time on April 2, 2025.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall
be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) The authority granted by law to an executive
department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) The functions of the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
or in equity by any party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
The White House, March 24, 2025.
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