Home Business U.S. sanctions Venezuela state oil firm PDVSA, escalating pressure on Maduro Business U.S. sanctions Venezuela state oil firm PDVSA, escalating pressure on Maduro By Genpie - January 29, 2019 184 0 Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest WhatsApp The Trump administration on Monday imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA, aimed at severely curbing the OPEC member’s crude exports to the United States and at pressuring socialist President Nicolas Maduro to step down.