E-mail: “Putting aside impossible tracing and enforcement issues (what if a European refinery took Saudi crude — could the US import gasoline from that refinery?), and assuming this is feasible from the standpoint of supply network logistics, your boycott might not have a significant impact on world crude oil prices but would almost certainly have a serious near-term negative impact on US refined product (gasoline, etc.)

prices.

Basically what you propose is that a US refiner would be prohibited from accepting crude oil from Saudi Arabia. This means US refiners would have to bid up for cargoes from permitted sources and would be exposed to greater volatility and potential supply chain disruption. Also, the most feasible replacement sources (Mexico, Venezuela, Canada) produce lower grade crude than Saudi Arabia. This lower grade (heavier) crude is more expensive to refine and requires special equipment that many smaller refiners cannot afford.”