Trump Officials May Soon Unleash Blacklisted Tankers to Cut Record Shipping Costs– www.westernjournal.com

The Trump administration is reportedly weighing whether to let blacklisted tankers haul legal oil as record shipping costs squeeze American crude sales overseas.

The administration is discussing relief for so-called shadow fleet ships — which have carried oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela — to bring down record freight rates, a U.S. official told Reuters Wednesday. The discussions come days after the Treasury Department said its Oct. 8 sanctions round “effectively neutralizes the vast majority of Iran’s remaining shadow fleet network.”

The talks focus on allowing crude and fuel not under U.S. sanctions to travel on blacklisted ships, with companies needing the Treasury Department’s approval to use them, according to the official. Russian and Iranian oil would remain off-limits, the outlet reported.

The Energy Department, the White House and the offices of Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment. The Treasury Department did not comment on the record.