The United States relaxes restrictions on transactions between US companies and Venezuelan oil companies.

On the 18th, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury issued a general license, conditionally authorizing US entities to engage in transactions with the Venezuelan oil company and entities in which the company holds 50% or more ownership. The license stipulates that the relevant transaction contracts must comply with US laws, and funds paid to sanctioned entities must be deposited in foreign government accounts established by the US government or other accounts designated by the US Department of the Treasury. According to the interpretation document issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the authorized transactions on that day involve the export, sale, storage, purchase, delivery, and transportation of Venezuelan oil and oil products, as well as the provision of relevant diluents, commodities, services, and technology to Venezuela, signing new investment contracts in the Venezuelan oil and gas sector, and establishing new joint ventures.