Pedro Freyre, International Practice Chair, was quoted in a Global Trade Review article regarding U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan crude oil, and how he predicts President Joseph Biden will handle the relationship. In his final days in office, President Donald Trump issued sanctions against a Mexico-based network that has been accused of brokering the sale of prohibited Venezuelan oil to Asian buyers. The move is part of a pressure campaign against Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro that began in 2019. In the wake of Biden’s election, Maduro has indicated he is interested in rebuilding the relationship between the two countries.

Freyre believes Biden is unlikely to rollback the sanctions on Venezuela, at least in the short term. However, he said that the new administration is likely to approach the relationship with “less drama and bluster,” and would be more likely to open a dialogue with the Maduro government.