U.S. Weighs Rosneft Sanctions But Wary of Oil Market Chaos (2)

The U.S. is weighing whether to sanction Russia’s biggest oil producer, Rosneft PJSC, for maintaining ties with Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, though American officials are wary that the move could cause chaos in global oil markets, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials at the Treasury Department worry that sanctions on Rosneft may drive up prices for oil, the people said. The U.S. has placed heavy economic sanctions on Venezuela as the Trump administration seeks to oust Maduro, its president, but the country’s oil industry continues to function. Crude accounts for 95% of Venezuelan exports and bankrolls Maduro’s regime. ...