US refiners mull switch to alternative lighter crudes amid Trump tariff fears
Top U.S. refiners are poised to seek alternative sources for heavy, sour crudes, including running more domestic grades, as they await clarity around U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on imports from the nation's top crude suppliers Canada and Mexico, executives said. Running more domestic crude, which is predominantly light, sweet shale oil, through U.S. refineries could be a win for Trump, who has vowed to boost the nation's energy production and championed the fossil fuel industry. The tariffs, however, have generated concern among refiners, who are already watching profits slide from record highs in 2022 on softer demand, as they would now take a hit from higher feedstock costs.