This content was published on June 18, 2021 – 01:05
Washington, Jun 17 (EFE) .- The United States Government relaxed on Thursday some economic sanctions against Venezuela to allow the acquisition of materials related to the pandemic, such as vaccines, masks, oxygen tanks or ventilators, according to a statement from the Treasury Department.
Along with Venezuela, Washington also eased sanctions on Iran and Syria with the same objective.
The Treasury reported that the measures affect “transactions and activities related to the delivery of masks, ventilators, oxygen tanks, vaccines and vaccine production, covid-19 tests, air filtration systems and field hospitals.”
The decision comes after an analysis within Joe Biden’s government to assess whether the sanctions “are unduly hampering responses to the pandemic” by affected countries.
In the specific case of Venezuela, the Treasury explained that the measure will allow sanctioned entities such as the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), the Bank of Venezuela or the Banco Bicentenario and its subsidiaries to carry out this type of transaction.
The Treasury, however, made it clear that the economic sanctions against Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and its business network remain intact.
The Government of Nicolás Maduro denounced last week that an international bank had blocked 10 million dollars deposited to the Covax mechanism for the purchase of vaccines as a result of the US sanctions.
“With this action, no one can deny that these unilateral coercive measures are criminal,” said Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
Former US President Donald Trump imposed endless sanctions against Venezuela during his term that Biden, after five months in power, has maintained despite stating that he is studying them.
Democratic congressman Jim McGovern asked Biden this week to lift the sanctions imposed by Trump, considering that they have “worsened the crisis” in Venezuela.
“I think the time has come to correct the course of US policy towards Venezuela. It is time to stop using the welfare of the Venezuelan people as a bargaining chip,” said the congressman. EFE
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