Trump Administration Weighing Easing 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Sanctions to Cut Record Freight Rates, U.S. Official Says
The Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on "shadow fleet" oil tankers in an effort to bring down record global tanker freight rates, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The shadow fleet vessels have previously carried oil from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
Under the approach being considered, "legitimate oil" not subject to U.S. sanctions — crude oil and refined products — could be carried on vessels that were previously sanctioned, while sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil would remain excluded. The goal is to move more crude oil and refined products out of the Persian Gulf region. Companies wishing to use the vessels would have to apply to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright mentioned in a video address to the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh this week that the administration was discussing the matter, according to the energy research firm Energy Aspects. The Energy Department said easing the sanctions would not help Russia transport its oil, and the Treasury Department referred questions back to the Energy Department.
The consideration comes days after Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. That diesel decision had drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European countries and some Senate Republicans. The possible easing of shadow fleet tanker sanctions remains under consideration and has not been implemented. Under the arrangement being considered, the easing would apply only to previously sanctioned vessels carrying oil that is not under U.S. sanctions, with sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil remaining excluded.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图（资料图）：一艘原油油轮在美国德克萨斯州阿瑟港水域航行。Quintin Soloviev 摄，CC0 1.0（Wikimedia Commons） / File photo: A crude oil tanker in Port Arthur, Texas. By Quintin Soloviev, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
