China is outraged by President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 25% tariff targeting all imports from countries that buy oil or gas from Venezuela. The tariff is set to take effect on April 2, a date Trump has labeled “Liberation Day in America.”
The Chinese government reacted angrily to the move, accusing the United States of interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs and demanding that the tariffs be dropped. A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry called the measure illegal and urged Washington to reverse course, warning that such actions harm peace and development efforts.
China facing now 45% tariff increase if it keeps buying Venezuelan oil https://t.co/PNAxddhr75
— Sara Eisen (@SaraEisen) March 24, 2025
Trump said the tariff was being imposed for multiple reasons, including Venezuela’s alleged effort to send violent criminals into the United States “undercover.” In a Truth Social post, Trump accused the regime of intentionally exporting members of dangerous gangs, including Tren de Aragua, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.
#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
According to Trump, “tens of thousands” of high-level and other violent offenders have been sent to the U.S. by Venezuela. Deportation flights to return them had been paused for weeks amid disagreements, but nearly 200 illegal aliens were flown back on Sunday, including known gang members.
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
The tariff policy will remain in place for one year after a country last purchased Venezuelan oil unless the U.S. government chooses to lift it sooner. It will apply not only to nations like China but also to other major buyers such as India, Spain and Italy.
🚨🇺🇸
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
China received more than half of Venezuela’s oil exports in February, according to trade reports. Trump has already imposed broad tariffs on China over fentanyl trafficking and other issues, but this new measure further raises tensions between the two global powers.
Venezuela’s government has been under U.S. sanctions for years. Trump’s latest action follows his administration’s move to resume deportation flights of illegal immigrants back to Venezuela after a brief standoff over their acceptance.
