A new federal report on barriers to “made-in-America exports” fails to consider restrictions on LNG and 1970s-era limits on U.S. crude oil, said API.
“The White House is focused on trade barriers overseas, but some of the worst limits on U.S. exports are imposed by our own outdated policies,” said API Executive Vice President Louis Finkel . “We can’t call for our allies to open their doors to trade while closing our own. Study after study shows that free trade in crude oil would promote the creation of U.S. jobs, put downward pressure on fuel costs, and strengthen America’s diplomatic influence overseas. At the same time, dozens of LNG export terminals could wait years for permits.”
The U.S. Trade Representative says that exports are central to the president’s economic agenda, but some policymakers seem to have a blind spot when it comes to energy, adds Finkel.
He said that the growth of the United States as a global energy superpower has been a game-changer for its energy security.
“We can’t expect that growth to continue if our own trade policies stand in the way. Free trade will allow U.S. producers to compete effectively for a share of the global market while helping diminish the influence of nations that use energy as a tool against our allies,” concludes Finkel.
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Image: API