Venezuela's state-owned mining company, Minerven, has signed a deal to sell up to 1,000 kilograms of gold destined for U.S. markets. The deal, facilitated by U.,S. officials, shows the increasing commercial ties between Venezuela and the United States following President Trump's ouster of Nicolas Maduro and control of Venezuela's oil-rich petroleum company. The gold deal requires Minerven to furnish 650 to 1/1,000 kilos of Gold Dore bars to commodities trader Trafigura, with the 98% final gold content, and the gold will be transported to U.K. by Trafiguras. This is the third extraction deal made under the Trump administration as Venezuela's most crucial resource, oil.