CARACAS – Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PdVSA, has revoked several permits granted to the American oil company Chevron, allowing it to load and export Venezuelan oil in April. This decision, confirmed by three sources familiar with the matter, comes in response to recent U.S. sanctions targeting the oil trade with Venezuela. 

Earlier in April, Washington lifted a 25% tariff on buyers of Venezuelan oil and gas. Experts believe this move primarily affects China, which is the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil. The U.S. government also withdrew a number of exemptions that previously allowed companies like Chevron to continue exporting oil despite existing sanctions. Under such an exemption, Chevron was permitted to export up to 250,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day to the United States. 

According to the sources, two tankers were already loaded with oil when the permits were revoked. The oil now needs to be returned to port. A third tanker had not yet been loaded. It remains unclear whether the shipments will proceed at a later time. Neither PdVSA nor Chevron has responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. 

U.S. authorities have given the affected companies until May 27 to complete their operations. The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, has sharply condemned the U.S. measures, calling them part of an "economic war" against the country. 

The new tariffs led to a temporary halt in oil shipments earlier this month, especially to China. However, shipments now appear to be resuming. Chevron had not felt the direct effects of the new measures until this week, thanks to the previously granted permits. The revocation of these permits by PdVSA changes that situation.