US tariffs on Canada and Mexico have thrown N. Am. commodity markets into turmoil, because of the scope of proposals and lack of details on how they may work, Argus reports.
- US agencies are not providing guidance on how a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and 25% tariff on all Mexican imports would be administered.
- The tariffs are currently set to come into effect on March 4 at 12:01am ET. Trump raised the possibility that tariffs on Mexico and Canada might be postponed again yesterday, the BBC reported.
- “A 25% tariff on oil and natural gas would likely lower production in Canada”, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers president Lisa Baiton said.
- Refining sources cited by Argus, said that there was no easy replacement for Canadian crude. Tariffs would lead to price increases and most “will ultimately be borne by the producer” and to a lesser extent the consumer, Marathon Petroleum CEO said on Feb. 4, cited by Argus.
- “The refiners in the Midwest and the Rockies have less options to substitute versus, say, the Gulf coast or the west coast refiners”, ConocoPhillips SVP Andy O’Brien said, cited by Argus.