Oil Down on OPEC+ Output Increase, Tariffs Start and US Pause on Ukraine Aid
Oil prices extended losses on Tuesday following reports that OPEC+ will proceed with a planned output increase in April and as markets braced for the start of U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, as well as Beijing's retaliatory tariffs.
Brent futures were down 90 cents, or 1.26%, to $70.72 a barrel at 0827 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was off 79 cents, or 1.16%, to $67.58.
"The current downward trend in oil prices is primarily driven by OPEC+'s decision to increase output and the introduction of U.S. tariffs," said Darren Lim, commodities strategist at Phillip Nova.
He said another factor was President Donald Trump's decision to pause all U.S. military aid to Ukraine following his Oval Office clash with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies like Russia, known as OPEC+, also decided on Monday to proceed with a planned April oil output increase of 138,000 barrels per day, the group's first since 2022.
"While this decision aims to gradually unwind previous output cuts, it has raised concerns about potential oversupply in the market," Lim said.
U.S. tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico took effect at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday, with 10% tariffs on Canadian energy, while tariffs on imports of Chinese goods were increased to 20% from 10%.
Source : Reuters
