FOREIGN POLICY/NATIONAL SECURITY/VENEZUELA: “The U.S. government is considering restricting trades in Venezuelan debt as it seeks to punish President Nicolás Maduro for undermining the country’s democracy, according to people familiar with the matter.
The unprecedented move would temporarily ban U.S.-regulated financial institutions from buying and selling dollar-denominated bonds issued by the Republic of Venezuela and state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA, according to a person who was briefed on the proposal.
Another person familiar with the matter cautioned that the measure was one of several steps under consideration regarding Venezuela. The person said the final decision would rest with President Donald Trump.
One option being considered is banning the trading in just some papers issued by the state oil company to limit its access to external funds, said a third person.
The ban would be the first step against the Venezuelan financial system since Mr. Trump promised ‘swift economic action’ against Mr. Maduro for installing a parallel parliament staffed with loyalists earlier this month.
Up to now, the progressive waves of U.S. sanctions have targeted dozens of Venezuelan officials, banning them from traveling to the U.S. and freezing any assets in the country for alleged human rights abuses and corruption.
On Wednesday, Vice President Michael Pence is scheduled to speak to Venezuelan expatriates in Miami.”
-Anatoly Kurmanaev and Ian Talley, “U.S. Weighs Restricting Trades in Venezuelan Debt to Punish Maduro,” The Wall Street Journal online, Aug. 22, 2017 11:20pm