Since 2015, the United States has implemented a series of targeted and sectoral sanctions on Venezuela aimed at addressing corruption, antidemocratic practices, and human rights violations. These measures have intensified under the Maduro administration and are imposed with the objective to pressure the Venezuelan government toward democratic reform. However, the effectiveness and humanitarian consequences of these sanctions remain highly contested. While designed as instruments of political coercion targeting state elites, critics argue that U.S. sanctions have disproportionately affected the Venezuelan civilian population, exacerbated economic decline, and deepened the country’s human insecurity. In October 2023, U.S sanctions received partial relief under General Licenses yet prior long-term placement of sanctions in the Venezuela regime has resulted in financial protectorate. This paper examines whether U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have undermined human security and economic rights while failing to achieve their intended political objectives. Through a qualitative examination of economic indicators, human rights reports, and policy documents, the paper assesses the relationship between sanctions, government failures, and human security outcomes. Which suggest that sanctions have contributed to the entrenched authoritarian government structures, intensified political and economic repression, and worsened humanitarian conditions for ordinary Venezuelans. The findings contribute to broader debates on the effectiveness of sanctions as tools of democratic promotion and their unintended consequences for civilian populations.

With the current tensions in trade across North America and the ongoing trade war with China, the question arises on what affects the United States face in the future. The study will take a dive into the automobile and parts industry that are imported from China, Canada, and Mexico and the difficulty of production in the United States. The study will be divided into six sections, aiming to analyze each countries’ trade activity. The first three sections will analyze the before, rise, and beginning of the trade war. While the last three sections will analyze the COVID-19 pandemic year, post pandemic, and the current United States administration tariffs and tensions. The study will analyze tariffs, trade restrictions and supply chain disruptions influencing production, manufacturing strategies and competitiveness in the United States. In addition, it presents the theoretical framework of the Bargaining Theory of War. A theoretical perspective that provides a useful framework for analyzing strategic interactions amongst the four countries during the trade war and throughout the implementation of USMCA. The study will aim to understand the reasoning behind the current tensions as well as evaluating the risks and opportunities faced by the United States, China, Canada, and Mexico. As well as how the countries' current political relationships are affected.