Re: Sanctions on VZ
fas has a writeup:
"Since 2006, U.S. officials have expressed concerns about Venezuela’s lack of cooperation on anti-terrorism efforts. Since then, the Secretary of State has made an annual determination that Venezuela is not “cooperating fully with United States anti-terrorism efforts” the United States has prohibited all U.S. commercial arms sales and retransfers to Venezuela since 2006."
Now that's funny. World's foremost terrorist accuses Venezuela of terrorism.
"In 2008, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions (asset freezing and prohibitions on transactions) on two individuals and two travel agencies in Venezuela for providing financial support to the radical Lebanon-based Islamic Shiite group Hezbollah."
"Since then, the President has made an annual determination, pursuant to procedures set forth in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, FY2003 (P.L. 107-228, §706; 22 U.S.C. 2291j), that Venezuela has failed demonstrably to adhere to its obligations under international narcotics agreements. President Trump made the most recent determination for FY2019 in September 2018, but also waived foreign aid restrictions for programs to support democracy promotion."
Great. We ought to see Sackler in jail soon ?
"economic sanctions on at least 22 individuals with connections to Venezuela and 27 companies by designating them as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers"
". Tier 3 countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act ... they are subject to a variety of U.S. aid restrictions, which may be waived by the President for national interest reasons."
Minimum standards apparently allow rendition and Guantanamo.
" Congress enacted the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014... the law requires the President to impose sanctions (asset blocking and visa restrictions) against those whom the President determines are responsible for significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses associated with February 2014 protest"
"In March 2015, President Obama issued E.O. 13692 ... targets (for asset blocking and visa restrictions) those
involved in actions or policies undermining democratic processes or institutions; those involved in acts of violence or conduct constituting a serious human rights abuse; those taking actions that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or peaceful assembly; public corruption by senior Venezuelan officials; and any person determined to be a current or former leader of any entity engaged in any activity described above or a current or former official of the government of Venezuela."
"the Treasury Department has imposed financial sanctions on 80 Venezuelans pursuant to E.O. 13692."
"On January 8, 2019, pursuant to E.O. 13850, the Trump Administration sanctioned 7 individuals and 23 companies for involvement in a corruption scheme involving Venezuela’s currency exchange practices"
"On January 28, 2019, pursuant to E.O. 13850, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated PdVSA as operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin determined that the company was subject to U.S. sanctions. As a result, all property and interests in property of PdVSA subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the company."
"In August 2017, President Trump issued E.O. 13808, which prohibits access to the U.S. ... prohibits access to US financial markets by the Venezuelan government, including PdVSA ... "
"In March 2018, President Trump issued E.O. 13827, which prohibits transactions involving the Venezuelan government’s issuance and use of digital currency, digital coin, or digital token."
"In May 2018, President Trump issued E.O. 13835, which prohibits transactions related to the purchase of Venezuelan debt, including accounts receivable, and to any debt owed to Venezuela pledged as collateral."
Read all about it:
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF10715.pdfsidd