Trump looking at sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector

Washington

THE Trump administration is considering possible sanctions on Venezuela's vital energy sector, including state oil company PDVSA, senior White House officials said, in what would be a major escalation of US efforts to pressure the country's embattled leftist government amid a crackdown on the opposition.

The idea of striking at the core of Venezuela's economy, which relies on oil for some 95 per cent of export revenues, has been discussed at high levels of the administration as part of a wide-ranging review of US options, but officials said it remains under debate and action is not imminent.