An anonymous official from the U.S. State Department said no decision had been made regarding the upcoming round of punitive measures against President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, however. Officials are reportedly weighing the effects of the proposed measures on Caracas and ordinary people. The White House favors swift sanctions, regardless of the election schedule, the source said. One proposed measure would target oil sales further, and another would take financial sanctions on the fossil fuel sector even further. Maduro is seeking a second six-year term to complete his “21st century socialism” plan, which has plunged the country into recession. The fund shortage also corresponds to three years of low oil prices, severely reducing the federal government’s access to cash. According to data by the EIA compiled by Bloomberg , Venezuela’s imports of heavy naphtha from the U.S.—all of which comes from Gulf Coast refineries—are some 2 million barrels per month, […]