Despite external aggressions, Venezuela remains steadfast on its path toward growth and prosperity.

On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil published a statement through which his country strongly rejects the 25% tariffs that the United States will impose on all countries that purchase Venezuelan oil or gas. Below is the full statement:

RELATED:

China Condemns U.S. Tariffs Against Venezuela

“Venezuela firmly and categorically rejects the new aggression announced by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who intends to impose a 25% secondary tariff on any country that trades oil and gas with Venezuela. This arbitrary, illegal, and desperate measure, far from weakening our resolve, confirms the resounding failure of all sanctions imposed against our country.

For years, the fascist right, repudiated by the Venezuelan people, has promoted economic sanctions with the hope of bringing Venezuela to its knees. They have failed. They failed because Venezuela is a sovereign country, because its people have resisted with dignity, and because the world no longer submits to any form of economic dictatorship.

Today, this same failed strategy is being repeated with coercive measures that seek to undermine the development of our nation. With this new action, the United States flagrantly violates international trade rules, in particular:

– The Most Favored Nation principle (Article I of GATT 1994), which prohibits discrimination between trading partners.

– The prohibition of quantitative restrictions (Article XI of GATT 1994), which prevents the imposition of disguised trade barriers.

– The principle of non-discrimination and fair treatment, enshrined in the Marrakech Agreement establishing the WTO.

These rules were created precisely to prevent a country from using trade as a weapon of political pressure against others. Venezuela will take all appropriate actions before international organizations to assert its rights and denounce this new violation of the global economic order.

Despite these aggressions, Venezuela remains steadfast on its path. Our country continues moving forward toward growth and prosperity, alongside a people who have resisted with dignity and have defeated every attempt at subjugation promoted by the same extremists as always.

They have not succeeded, and they will not succeed in stopping us. The policy of maximum pressure has failed in Venezuela and around the world.

The self-determination of our people, who have always risen to challenges and who proudly bear the legacy of Simon Bolivar, the greatest liberator of the Americas.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: FM

EN ESTA NOTA: