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2015-08-07 19:50:00

USA: BAD & BETTER

USA: BAD & BETTER

Mid-year trade report from the U.S. Commerce Department shows that the oil and natural gas industry continues to drive U.S. economic gains in 2015, a trend that could accelerate under free trade policies, said API Chief Economist John Felmy.

"Despite a very competitive global market, the U.S. energy revolution continues to push our trade balance in a positive direction," said Felmy. "Oil imports remain on the decline, and strong exports of petroleum and refined products are creating new opportunities for America to bring wealth and jobs back to U.S. shores."

The total U.S. trade deficit peaked at $762 billion in 2006, prior to the surge in U.S. oil and natural gas production. By 2014, it had dropped to $508 billion. Today's report, covering trade data through June 2015, shows that the U.S. trade deficit among petroleum and petroleum products fell by 56.1 percent compared to the first six months of 2014. That growth helped to hold the total U.S. year-over-year trade balance steady, despite a 23.1 percent increase in the trade deficit among non-petroleum products. Due to low commodity prices, the value of U.S. petroleum and petroleum product exports fell by $20.2 billion, despite high export volumes, but petroleum-related imports fell faster, down $78.6 billion compared to the first six months of 2014.

"Outdated trade policies are among the biggest threats to America's continued growth right now," added Felmy. "Accelerating approval of LNG export terminals and lifting the 1970s era ban on crude oil exports would put America in the driver's seat on trade. America is now the world's largest producer of natural gas, providing our workers an important competitive advantage in the global market. And study after study shows that lifting the ban on crude exports will mean more jobs, downward pressure on fuel costs, and could reduce the power that foreign suppliers have over our allies overseas.

"Strong, bipartisan legislation to accelerate America's growth as an energy superpower is now making its way through both chambers of Congress. We urge members of the House and Senate to make free trade in energy a top priority when they return from their August recess."

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API's more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 25 million Americans.

api.org

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More: 

US OIL WILL DOWN 91,000 

US DEBT: THE GREATEST 

US DEFICIT UP $41.9 BLN 

US EXPORTS UP 

US JOBS DOWN

 

Tags: USA, OIL, GAS, LNG