[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 58 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 13829-13831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05440]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 58 / Thursday, March 27, 2025 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 13829]]
Executive Order 14245 of March 24, 2025
Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing
Venezuelan Oil
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 Nicol[aacute]s 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:
[[Page 13830]]
(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 Nicol[aacute]s 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
[[Page 13831]]
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.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 24, 2025.
[FR Doc. 2025-05440
Filed 3-26-25; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P