US oil executives to meet with Trump next week

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By Jarrett Renshaw and Ron Bousso

HOUSTON (Reuters) -U.S. oil producers will meet with President Donald Trump next week, leading industry group the American Petroleum Institute said on Wednesday.

Among the topics for discussion are tariffs, trade and exports of liquefied natural gas, an industry source told Reuters.

The API, which counts oil majors ExxonMobil and Chevron as members, helped put together the meeting.

“We appreciate the opportunity to discuss how American oil and natural gas is driving economic growth, strengthening our national security and supporting consumers with the President and his team,” API spokesperson, Bethany Williams, told Reuters when asked about the meeting.

Trump is pursuing a trade war with allies Mexico and Canada that the API has publicly opposed. Trump has imposed tariffs on imported crude from Canada and Mexico but issued exemptions as long as producers can prove producers comply with the trade agreement between the three countries, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Last month, in response to the tariffs, API CEO Mike Sommers said, “Energy markets are highly integrated, and free and fair trade across our borders is critical for delivering affordable, reliable energy to U.S. consumers.”

Oil and gas interests donated some $75 million to Trump’s presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee and allied groups, according to data compiled by the OpenSecrets organization.

Billionaires Harold Hamm of Continental Resources, Kelcy Warren of Energy Transfer Partners and Jeffery Hildebrand of Hilcorp Energy Co are among the highest-profile oil and gas contributors to Trump. They and their spouses donated some $15 million to Trump’s election efforts, data shows.

(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw and Ron Bousso; Editing by David Gregorio)