The dominance of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), particularly in stabilising oil price globally, is coming under serious threat following works on the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) bill by United States lawmakers.
If passed, the piece of legislation, introduced in 2000, would make it illegal for foreign nations to limit oil and gas production as well as fix prices or restrain trade in the products.The House Judiciary Committee had passed the bill last week to allow U.S. Justice Department sue OPEC members for “manipulating” the oil market, thereby removing sovereign immunity and exposing member countries to anti-trust regulation.
Though the campaign had got little or no attention under Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama, analysts are, however divided on the proposed law against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s disapproval for OPEC’s activities.
With the bill being cleared for a vote before the full House of Representatives, Democrats Patrick Leahy and Amy Klobuchar and Republicans Chuck Grassley and Mike Lee have already introduced the NOPEC legislation in the Senate, a report by CNBC noted. Read more