The U.S. authorizes China to buy Venezuelan oil, but under its rules and prices

The United States confirmed that it will allow China to continue purchasing Venezuelan oil, but no longer under the conditions that benefited chavismo for years. This decision marks another step in the direct control that Washington exerts over Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the establishment of an interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez.

According to Reuters, the administration of Donald Trump has made it clear that Beijing will be able to purchase Venezuelan crude only at "fair market prices," and not at the discounted rates with which the Maduro regime settled political and financial debts with China. A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that these sales will be monitored indefinitely by Washington.

According to the source cited by Reuters, although the crude will be sold in the global market, a significant portion must end up in U.S. refineries, under direct supervision of the American government.

"Thanks to the decisive operation of President Trump, the people of Venezuela will receive a fair price for their oil, and not the corrupt and cheap price of the past," stated the official, in a remark that directly targets the dependency model that Caracas maintained for years with China.

The Asian giant has been the main buyer of Venezuelan crude oil for over a decade, a connection that allowed chavismo to survive sanctions, production collapses, and international isolation. Those shipments were used to pay off massive loans granted by Beijing, often at the expense of selling the oil well below market value.

Now the situation is changing. The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, recently stated that Washington receives about 45 dollars per barrel of Venezuelan oil, a figure significantly higher than the approximately 31 dollars that were received prior to Maduro's downfall, according to data cited by Reuters.

Analysts and traders in the energy sector are anticipating that Chinese imports from Venezuela will begin to decline starting in February. The reason is simple: fewer vessels are managing to leave the country since the United States formally claimed control over the sales of Venezuelan oil, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.