November
3, 2004
US wants to help mend
trade and credit ties
(Reuters) - "U.S. government
credit and insurance agencies will resume
cover for new investments in Venezuela
as soon as existing commercial problems
are resolved as part of a proposed improvement
in ties, the U.S. Ambassador to Caracas
said. Venezuela is one of the biggest
suppliers of crude oil and products to
the United States (…)
Addressing businessmen in Caracas, U.S.
Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield
said both governments needed to iron out
disagreements and improve cooperation,
including the multi-billion dollar trade,
investment and energy ties between the
two countries (…)
Brownfield said despite political differences,
the two nations retained strong ties and
a key energy relationship.
Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter,
ships around 1.3 million barrels per day
(bpd) of crude to the United States and
U.S. oil majors like Exxon Mobil Corp.,
ChevronTexaco and ConocoPhillips have
big investments there (…)
Brownfield was optimistic ties between
the two governments could improve following
the ratification of Chávez's rule
in an August referendum and the re-election
of Bush in U.S. elections (…)".
