China opposes U.S. move to punish countries buying Venezuelan oil

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday slammed the latest U.S. move to impose a 25-percent tariff on countries importing Venezuelan oil.

The U.S. has long abused illegal unilateral sanctions and imposed "long-arm jurisdiction" towards other countries, which blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, said Guo.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25-percent tariff on any country that trades oil and gas with Venezuela.

Guo urged the U.S. to stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs and to revoke its illegal unilateral sanctions against Venezuela.

"Trade wars and tariff wars yield no winners – raising tariffs will only increase the burden on American businesses and consumers," he said.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reaffirmed his commitment to economic recovery. "If yesterday the battle was with spears and on horseback, today the battle is to produce, supply, export, and develop," Maduro said Monday on state television.

(Cover: An oil refinery in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela, March 19, 2025. /VCG)