Maduro complained about US-imposed tariff-free gross sales authorizations

By Vivian Sequeira

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday criticized U.S. licenses that forestall firms doing enterprise with Venezuelan authorities businesses from paying his authorities.

Final 12 months, Washington licensed U.S. and European firms to purchase again Venezuelan crude on the situation that Venezuela was not paid. Final week, the USA licensed Trinidad and Tobago to import gasoline from an offshore Venezuelan area and prevented cash from altering palms.

The recognitions have been a part of US President Joe Biden’s transfer to encourage political talks between Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition with the principle intention of guaranteeing a good presidential election.

“They’re telling a rustic that commerce with Venezuela is allowed, however you’ll be able to’t pay in {dollars} or in any variety. It’s important to pay with meals or merchandise,” Maduro stated in a broadcast. “That’s colonialism.”

Maduro criticized the US Treasury’s Workplace of Overseas Belongings Management (OFAC), which issued the licenses, and stated it was making an attempt to dictate how authorities and personal firms may do enterprise with Venezuela.

“This can be a joke for sovereign nations. I name on sovereign nations and the governments of the USA and the Caribbean to sentence this colonial mannequin. We is not going to settle for it and we are going to go our method,” he stated.

Maduro didn’t present particulars on subsequent steps.

After Trinidad’s license final week, Venezuela has not stated publicly whether or not it’s going to maintain talks with the Caribbean nation.

(Reporting by Marianna Baraka)