That is true, exports of US crude have been restricted for decades although some recent sales ( South Korea 2014) pushed the law
Japan’s major supplier is middle east and obama ‘s deal with his Iranian pen pals will possibly flood the market with Iranian oil once sanctions lifted
Oil that must pass through waters increasingly subject to Chinese hegemony over the western Pacific
I wonder if the new obamatrade treaty deal with the
Pacific Rim will end up directing more of our oil to China Japan etc? Since no one in Congress read it before they capitulated
We live in interesting times
California and Washington State still need to import oil. They won’t be getting enough by railroad from the Bakken to come close to replacing the dwindling Alaskan Supply.
They are going to pay market prices, and it is cheaper to move the oil 1/3 ~ !/2 the distance.