The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing two new Venezuela-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs 1236 and 1237). They are set out below:

1236. How does Venezuela General License (GL) 30B differ from Venezuela GL 30A?

Answer

On February 10, 2026 OFAC issued Venezuela GL 30B, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Necessary to Port and Airport Operations,” which removes the prohibition in GL 30A regarding transactions or activities related to the exportation or reexportation of diluents to Venezuela.  Transactions authorized by GL 30B continue to include payments that are ordinarily incident and necessary to operations or use of ports and airports in Venezuela, including transactions involving the Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuaticos (INEA) or its majority-owned subsidiaries.  GL 30B authorizes the payment of port fees and customs duties—including for activities authorized under Venezuela GLs 46A, 47, and 48.

Date Released

February 18, 2026

1237. Do Venezuela General Licenses (GLs) 46A and 48 allow for the payments of certain local taxes, permits, and fees in support of authorized transactions involving Venezuela’s oil or gas sectors?

Answer

Yes. Consistent with other authorizations issued by OFAC pursuant to the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations (VSR), GLs 46A and 48 authorize routine payments of local taxes, permits, and fees to the Government of Venezuela (GOV) or its instrumentalities.

However, other payments, including royalties, fixed per-barrel production levies, or federal taxes to blocked persons, such as the GOV or Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), must be made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds, as specified in Executive Order (E.O.) 14373, or any other account as instructed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Date Released

February 18, 2026