Trump Asks OPEC to Increase Oil Output to Keep Prices in Check
President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of OPEC, saying the cartel should increase production because prices are getting “too high.”
It’s the second time this year the president has taken to Twitter to urge the cartel to backtrack on its current policy of cutting production. Unlike last year, when Trump’s attacks triggered a swift U-turn in Saudi oil policy, the group so far has ignored his calls.
Oil prices showed limited reaction March 28, dipping about 35 cents before quickly returning to their prior level of about $58.50 a barrel in New York.
“The tweets seem to have diminishing returns these days,” said Derek Brower, a director at RS Energy Group. “Everything Saudi Arabia is doing right now suggests it will not be bounced into prematurely ending its cuts this year.”
Very important that OPEC increase the flow of Oil. World Markets are fragile, price of Oil getting too high. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019
As the potency of Trump’s interventions has diminished, his language has also softened. After commanding the group to “REDUCE PRICES NOW” in July, his tweets this year have included the phrases “please” and “thank you.”
U.S. crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate has risen 29% since OPEC and allies including Russia began another round of production cuts at the start of the year. Average American gasoline prices are at a four-month high, heightening concerns about the impact of the cartel’s policy on the nation’s consumers.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia led OPEC and its allies to reaffirm their commitment to output cuts but conceded they should defer until June the decision on whether to extend the curbs.
Trump’s desire for low fuel prices cuts both ways since the shale boom turned the United States into the world’s largest crude producer. The country’s output has exceeded 12 million barrels a day since mid-February, yet there are signs that growth is slowing. The number of operational drilling rigs has fallen for five straight weeks to the lowest since April, according to data from Baker Hughes.
