Ukraine war latest: US refinery lobby backs Russian oil ban as White House rejects import halt

The White House has rejected calls by Republican and Democratic lawmakers to impose a ban on Russian oil imports into the United States, saying the embargo would limit global supply and raise prices for Russian oil. consumers.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki: “We have no strategic interest in reducing the global energy supply, and that would increase the price of gas pumps for Americans, around the world, because because it will reduce the available supply.” said on Thursday. “It’s simply that less supply raises prices, and that’s certainly been a big factor for the president. . . at this time.”

Psaki’s comment has arrived a few hours later Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat on Capitol Hill, dropped her weight after the ban, telling reporters she was “all for” the ban on imports of Russian petroleum products. “Ban it . . . Pelosi said.

Several members of Congress from both parties have called for a ban on imports in recent days. On Thursday afternoon, Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, introduced legislation that would enact the embargo, involving a group of Democrats and Republicans. from both the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Manchin quickly dismissed the White House’s position, telling reporters: “They were wrong, so wrong.”

“If there is an inconvenience because we have to fundamentally change the business model of where you get the product. . . there are other places in the world,” Manchin said.

Manchin joined fellow Republicans in arguing that the United States should increase domestic oil production to offset the drop in imports. The senator’s critics have pointed out that he has received more donations from the oil and gas sector than any other member of Congress in recent years.