WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States government is considering options to cut Russian oil imports and is evaluating possible actions to reduce the impact on global supply and the impact on consumers, the White House said on Friday.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that the White House is also in contact with US lawmakers on the matter.
“We are looking for ways to reduce Russian oil imports, as well as ensure that we keep up with global supply needs,” Saki said.
According to the Energy Information Administration (IEA), the United States imported an average of more than 20.4 million barrels of oil and refined products a month from Russia in 2021, which accounts for about 8% of US liquid fuel imports.
White House economic adviser Cecilia Rouse said the US does not import much Russian oil, but is still considering a number of possible measures.
“What is really more important is that we maintain a steady supply of global energy,” she said, adding that the government was “considering a number of options that we could take right now if we cut Russian energy consumption.” Huh”.
The comments came after oil prices rose last week after the US and its allies imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Chris Gallagher)
