PITTSBURGH (Reuters) – U.S. oil and gas lobby groups said on Tuesday they were wary of newly elected President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, saying such policies could impact consumers, industry and safety.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, pledged to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, two of America’s largest trading partners, until they control drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border, in an effort to establish ties. that seems to conflict with a free trade agreement.
Lobby groups from the drilling and refining industries warned that there could be major consequences.
“A blanket trade policy that could increase import costs, reduce accessible supplies of oil raw materials and products, or trigger retaliatory tariffs has the potential to impact consumers and undermine our lead as the world’s largest producer of liquid fuels” , said a spokesperson. spokesperson for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers group.
The AFPM said its industries would “continue to urge officials to refrain from any policies that could disrupt America’s energy advantage.”
The American Petroleum Institute, in response to a question about the threatened tariffs, said maintaining energy trade across borders is crucial. Canada, the largest oil supplier to the United States, sent nearly 4 million barrels of crude oil per day to the United States last year.
“Canada and Mexico are our most important energy trading partners, and maintaining the free flow of energy products across our borders is critical to North American energy security and American consumers,” said API spokesman Scott Lauermann.
