[MNJohnnie]

11. Due to an obscenely complex Govt Regulatory system. 13% of US Gas supplies ARE IMPORTED. There is no indication that that number will be decreasing in the near future.

Now I can understand we have to import Oil but there is no reason to import the finished product!

[thackney]

Not 13%

............. / 2004 / 2005 / 2006
Demand / 9.099 / 9.159 / 9.219 MMBPD
Imports / 0.483 / 0.584 / 0.512 MMBBPD
% of total / 5.3% / 6.4% / 5.6%

2005 was higher because of the refinery outages after Katrina.

U.S. Finished Motor Gasoline Product Supplied
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mgfupus2m.htm

U.S. Finished Motor Gasoline Imports from All Countries
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mgfimus2m.htm

[lucysmom]

Now I can understand we have to import Oil but there is no reason to import the finished product!

Nothing worse than over supply. If you are a producer, it makes sense to sell less and profit more. Importing finished gas allows companies to have product to sell during periods of high demand without investing in refineries.