Venezuela’s National Assembly has approved, in a first reading, a bill aimed at safeguarding navigation and trade freedoms, as the government accuses the United States of enforcing a “total blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers.br br The proposed law seeks to protect shipping activities covered by international treaties ratified by Venezuela and introduces penalties of up to 20 years in prison for those who support actions Caracas describes as acts of “piracy.” The legislation follows recent U.S. seizures and boardings of vessels linked to Venezuelan oil exports.br br The debate took place during an extraordinary session, hours after President Nicolas Maduro warned regional and United Nations leaders of what he called an escalation of U.S. aggression that could destabilize the Caribbean and beyond. The bill is expected to move to a second and final reading.