White House says it's 'looking at ways to reduce' Russian oil imports
The White House on Friday did not rule out banning Russian oil imports to the U.S., saying it was "looking at ways to reduce the import of Russian oil," but showed continued reluctance in light of the impact it would have on energy prices.
“We are considering a range of options, but what's really essential is that we maintain a steady supply of global energy,” Cecilia Rouse, the chair of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, said at the White House press briefing.
Adding, “Energy is a global market and we do not want to disrupt that market.”
Bloomberg on Friday reported that “the administration is weighing a ban on U.S. imports of Russian crude oil,” and that “conversations are taking place within the administration and with the U.S. oil and gas industry on the impact such a move would have on American consumers and the global supply,” citing unnamed “people familiar with the matter."
An expert at GasBuddy told ABC News on Thursday that banning Russian oil imports would, in fact, likely raise gas prices in the U.S.
Psaki said there wasn’t any “outside event” for which the U.S. was waiting to implement a ban, but that the White House was “mindful of not taking steps” that would raise energy prices for Americans and that the U.S. also wanted to take steps in concert with allies.
There would be a much larger impact on energy prices in Europe, which is a lot more reliant on Russian oil, according to experts.
-ABC News' Ben Gittleson