The United States is preparing to grant new authorizations to key partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, starting with Chevron , to allow them to operate with limitations in the sanctioned OPEC nation and swap oil,

The Trump administration had canceled Chevron’s license soon after taking office, charging the Maduro government was slow to take back deported Venezuelans.

Trump backs Chevron's return to Venezuela oil fields, challenging GOP critics and reversing policy, as U.S. negotiates prisoner releases and limits Maduro's profits.