LONDON — OPEC is encouraging its members to engage with the
US administration over a proposed US bill against the group, known as NOPEC,
and to explain that passing the bill could put at risk US interests abroad.
اضافة اعلان
A US House panel passed a bill this week to open the Organization
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to lawsuits for collusion in
boosting oil prices but it is uncertain whether the full chamber will consider
the legislation.
“It is essential that member countries reinforce diplomatic
bilateral contacts with government officials in the US ... and explain the
disadvantages for the US should the NOPEC bill become law,” according to a
letter written by OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo to member states and
seen by Reuters.
“These disadvantages might include: weakening the immunity
principle at a global level, putting at risk US interests overseas, and the
protection for their personnel and assets,” the letter said.
Similar bills to target OPEC when oil prices rise have
appeared in Congress over the past two decades without success.
Barkindo said “several prominent US economic actors” had
expressed reservations about the NOPEC bill, including the US Chamber of
Commerce.
His letter to OPEC members included a letter from Neil
Bradley, the chamber’s chief policy officer, addressed to US House of
Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler and Jim Jordan, a
committee ranking member.
“Under reciprocal legal regimes the United States and its
agents throughout the world could be tried before foreign courts – perhaps
including the military – for any activity that the foreign state wishes to make
an offense,” Bradley wrote in the letter dated April 13.
Risk to market
Barkindo said other disadvantages of the bill might include
undermining important trade and energy relations between the United States and
member states and might affect oil prices.
It could “increase the risk of volatility of the
international oil markets, which directly affects US oil-producing states and
corporations,” he said.
The
NOPEC bill, introduced by Republican Representative
Steve Chabot, was passed by voice vote in the House Judiciary Committee.
Letters from OPEC’s secretariat to members are fairly common
and relate to events that may impact energy consumers and producers.
Barkindo’s letter said the bill could lead to fines on
OPEC members and its national oil companies, which could be collected through
seizure of assets on US territory or elsewhere.
It said the Vienna-based secretariat would resume monthly
reports on the bill’s progress, call a legal team meeting to brainstorm
possible actions and gain a better understanding of the new US administration’s
position on the bill.
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