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WTI Slips Below $73 on Mixed Tariff Signals

Oil settled slightly lower after a turbulent session buffeted by conflicting messages about the timing and scope of tariffs on major US crude suppliers Canada and Mexico. West Texas Intermediate edged down below $73 a barrel after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that the planned tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will start […]

Oil settled slightly lower after a turbulent session buffeted by conflicting messages about the timing and scope of tariffs on major US crude suppliers Canada and Mexico.

West Texas Intermediate edged down below $73 a barrel after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that the planned tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will start as soon as Feb. 1. Crude had earlier declined as much as 1.1% after Reuters reported the measures would be delayed until March 1 and may allow for exemptions, assuaging concerns about supply disruptions.

“I saw that report, and it is false,” Leavitt told reporters on Friday during a press briefing. “I was just with the President in the Oval Office, and I can confirm that tomorrow the Feb. 1 deadline that President Trump put into place” remains, she added. She didn’t clarify whether crude would be exempt from the incoming levies.

The inclusion of crude in the tariffs would risk major reverberations across the oil market. Canada ships about 4 million barrels a day to the US, and the countries’ energy markets are closely integrated, with refiners in the Midwest the most vulnerable to disruptions.

Valero Energy Corp., the third-biggest US fuelmaker by market value, expects processors to cut production if tariffs hit oil imports. Canadian crude prices have been volatile in the weeks since the tariffs were first floated, while premiums for gasoline and diesel have risen in recent days.

“The inclusion of Canada oil in a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would likely initially raise gasoline prices in the US Midwest, and eventually weigh on crude prices globally (via weaker demand) and especially in Canada, where producers have limited export options,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts including Daan Struyven said in a note.

Crude was little changed in January after gains triggered by US sanctions on Russia and cold weather were undercut by Trump’s planned tariffs and his calls on OPEC to lower crude prices by increasing production.

Traders expect the group to stick with its current plan to gradually add supply only from April at a review meeting next week.

Oil Prices:

  • WTI for March delivery fell 0.3% to $72.53 a barrel in New York.
  • Brent for April dropped 0.3% to $75.67 a barrel.
    •     The front-month March contract expires on Friday

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US Justice Department sues to block HPE’s $14 billion Juniper buy

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WTI Slips Below $73 on Mixed Tariff Signals

Oil settled slightly lower after a turbulent session buffeted by conflicting messages about the timing and scope of tariffs on major US crude suppliers Canada and Mexico. West Texas Intermediate edged down below $73 a barrel after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that the planned tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will start as soon as Feb. 1. Crude had earlier declined as much as 1.1% after Reuters reported the measures would be delayed until March 1 and may allow for exemptions, assuaging concerns about supply disruptions. “I saw that report, and it is false,” Leavitt told reporters on Friday during a press briefing. “I was just with the President in the Oval Office, and I can confirm that tomorrow the Feb. 1 deadline that President Trump put into place” remains, she added. She didn’t clarify whether crude would be exempt from the incoming levies. The inclusion of crude in the tariffs would risk major reverberations across the oil market. Canada ships about 4 million barrels a day to the US, and the countries’ energy markets are closely integrated, with refiners in the Midwest the most vulnerable to disruptions. Valero Energy Corp., the third-biggest US fuelmaker by market value, expects processors to cut production if tariffs hit oil imports. Canadian crude prices have been volatile in the weeks since the tariffs were first floated, while premiums for gasoline and diesel have risen in recent days. “The inclusion of Canada oil in a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would likely initially raise gasoline prices in the US Midwest, and eventually weigh on crude prices globally (via weaker demand) and especially in Canada, where producers have limited export options,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts including Daan Struyven said in a note. Crude was little changed in January after gains

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Jonathan Cole: Outgoing Corio CEO says now is the time for discipline

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Macquarie Strategists See ‘Very Large’ USA Crude Build in Next EIA Report

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2025 US power sector outlook

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Trump’s 100% tariff threat on Taiwan chips raises cost, supply chain fears

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New tweak to Linux kernel could cut data center power usage by up to 30%

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Microsoft will invest $80B in AI data centers in fiscal 2025

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John Deere unveils more autonomous farm machines to address skill labor shortage

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