Trump says Venezuela to buy only US-made goods with oil proceeds

US President Trump says Venezuela will use proceeds from oil sales to purchase only American-made products

US President Donald Trump said Venezuela will use proceeds from oil sales to purchase only American-made products, as pressure continues on Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez to deepen economic ties with the United States following the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Venezuela would spend money from a new oil deal exclusively on US-made goods, including agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, and equipment to help improve the country’s electricity grid and energy facilities.

“In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner,” Trump wrote.

His comments followed an announcement on Tuesday that Venezuela would deliver between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States after Maduro was ousted, with the crude to be sold at market prices.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that the United States was not seizing Venezuelan oil and would resume selling it on global markets, with the proceeds deposited into accounts in Venezuela’s name and returned for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.