US President Donald Trump is reaching for his favorite policy tool—tariffs—in a bid to punish those unwilling to cut ties with Venezuelan energy exports. He warned that countries that continue to buy oil and gas from Venezuela could soon face "special terms," including a 25% tariff on their goods entering the US market.

Trump justified the move with a characteristically unconventional explanation: Venezuela, he claimed, not only exports oil but also allegedly sends "hundreds of violent criminals" to the United States, including members of major gangs.

In addition, Trump accused the Venezuelan government of harboring hostility toward the United States and lacking respect for the freedoms that Washington holds dear. According to the US president, the tariff measure is not only economic but also political and ideological. The new tariffs are set to take effect on April 2.

To recap, Trump had already suspended a US license for Venezuelan energy imports in late February, citing Caracas' failure to meet key terms of a bilateral agreement. Chief among them was transparent elections. Since no elections were held and oil exports continued, the president's patience appears to have run out.