Gas Prices Are Rising. Here’s How Trump’s Latest Move Could Affect Drivers
Gas prices have been edging up in many parts of the U.S. as oil markets react to fresh policy changes and supply concerns. That shift got sharper on March 24, 2025, when President Donald Trump announced a new tariff tied to Venezuelan oil, a move that analysts said could affect crude costs that eventually show up at gas stations. For drivers, the immediate issue is simple: higher oil prices often put upward pressure on gasoline prices, even if local changes vary by state and station.
Trump’s tariff move and the market reaction
President Donald Trump announced on March 24, 2025, that the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries that buy oil or gas from Venezuela. He stated the measure would take effect on April 2, 2025, and described it as part of a broader policy response tied to Venezuela.
After the announcement, oil prices moved higher in global trading. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose 61 cents, or 0.8%, to $73.61 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 59 cents, or 0.9%, to $69.87 a barrel.
Analysts told Reuters the policy could reshape crude flows because Venezuela exported about 660,000 barrels per day in 2024. About 270,000 barrels per day of that volume went to China, making the tariff especially notable for countries and refiners tied to Venezuelan supply.
What drivers may notice across the U.S.
For drivers, the national impact is clearer than the local picture right now. AAA said the U.S. average for regular gasoline was $3.50 per gallon on March 25, 2025, up from $3.39 a month earlier, showing that pump prices were already rising before any tariff deadline arrives.
What is confirmed is that higher crude prices can raise wholesale gasoline costs, which can later affect retail prices. What is not yet known is how much of the March 24 policy change will be reflected in state-by-state pump prices, because retailers, taxes, fuel blends, and regional supply systems vary widely.
States on the West Coast, including California, often see faster or larger price swings because of stricter fuel specifications and refinery constraints. Even so, no federal agency has released a state-specific estimate tied only to Trump’s March 24 tariff announcement.
Why this is happening and what comes next
The main reason this matters is that crude oil is the biggest component in the price of gasoline. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has consistently said crude costs account for more than half of what drivers pay per gallon, so even a modest jump in oil markets can matter.
Reuters reported that market participants were weighing whether the tariff could reduce access to Venezuelan crude and force buyers to seek other supplies. That kind of shift can tighten parts of the market, especially when global oil prices are already reacting to sanctions, production policy, and shipping patterns.
For now, drivers should expect price movement to remain tied to crude trading and regional supply conditions rather than one uniform national increase. The full effect of the April 2, 2025 tariff start date was not yet known as of the initial market reaction, but analysts were already treating the announcement as a factor pushing oil prices higher.
