U.S. Has Used Up Most Options to Soften the Oil Price Shock

The Trump Administration has already used up most emergency options to rein in the soaring international crude oil prices, which have pushed up U.S. gasoline prices by $0.80 per gallon from a month ago. The U.S. last week tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as part of a record-high reserves release announced by the International Energy Agency. The Trump Administration also issued a one-month waiver allowing buyers to purchase sanctioned Russian oil on tankers without repercussions. It also promised, two weeks ago, risk insurance and escort…