Bill would remove U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia in 30 days
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[April 10, 2020]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican
U.S. senator introduced legislation on Thursday to remove American
troops from Saudi Arabia, adding pressure on the kingdom to tighten its
oil taps to reverse the crude price drop that has hurt domestic energy
companies.
The legislation from Senator Bill Cassidy, of oil-producing Louisiana,
would remove U.S. troops 30 days after enactment, a full month faster
than similar legislation introduced by two other Republican senators in
March.
Cassidy introduced the bill as OPEC+, a production group including Saudi
Arabia and others in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
and allies including Russia, closed in on a deal to slash oil output by
a record amount of about 15 million barrels, or 15% of global
production.
The spread of the coronavirus has crushed crude demand at the same time
that Saudi Arabia and Russia have pumped oil flat- out in a race for
market share, pushing prices to 18-year lows.
The extra oil from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has
made it impossible for energy companies in the United States, the
world's top oil and gas producer, to compete, Cassidy said.
"Withdrawing troops placed to protect others recognizes that friendship
and support is a two-way street," he said.
Cassidy's bill faces an uphill battle and would have to pass the Senate,
the House of Representatives and be signed by President Donald Trump to
become law. Still, it was a sign of how Congress could take action
against Saudi Arabia if it does not stick to the plan to cut oil output.
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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) gives news reporters hand sanitizer
following a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 Coronavirus, on Capitol
Hill in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner
The bill would also place tariffs on imports of oil from Saudi
Arabia within 10 days of enactment. The tariff would ensure that the
price of oil imports from Saudi Arabia would not be less than $40 a
barrel, the bill said.
Trump has threatened tariffs on oil imports from Saudi Arabia and
Russia but has not imposed them amid opposition from powerful energy
interests, including the American Petroleum Institute lobbying
group.
The bill would not remove U.S. Patriot missiles or THAAD defense
systems, as the previous legislation would.
Congress is out until at least April 20 and possibly longer due to
the coronavirus outbreak.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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