Florida governor wants companies to stop doing business with Venezuela

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By CGTN’s Steve Mort

The state of Florida is home to about 100,000 Venezuelans. It also exported more than 1 billion dollars worth of goods to Venezuela last year. But now, Florida is considering a move designed to target President Nicolas Maudro's government.

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced on July 10 that he wants the state to stop doing business in Venezuela.

He planned to discuss the details of his plan during a press conference on Wednesday but cut the event short saying he had an important meeting.

That meeting was with executives from Goldman Sachs who could be caught in the crosshairs of the governors plan.

The banking giant recently acquired billions of dollars of bonds issued by Venezuela’s state-run oil company.

In a statement, Goldman said they have not conducted business with the Maduro government and do not intend to. It goes on to say “many asset managers make similar investments every day for clients.”

Governor Scott said he’ll press ahead. He’s expected to detail his proposals at a Cabinet meeting in August.

“Traditionally the role of dealing with foreign countries is left to the federal government, not to individual states,” said Jorge Guttman, vice president of Venezuelan American National Bar Association.

The Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce said most of its approximately 500 members do business in both countries.

“That does not mean that they are promoting any efforts with the Venezuelan government,” Andriana Kostencki, president of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce said.

CGTN Photo

Florida passed a law in 2012 targeting Cuba and Syria. But a court ruled the measure unconstitutional for usurping federal law.

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