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> If we had an oil export tariff, then we would very quickly become oil independent.

We typically export refined oil products (think gasoline from WA to BC) that have lots of value add (refined gasoline rather than just oil). A lot of it goes to our allies (Japan), or even China. Cleaner American crude might go to other countries who mix it in with dirtier local crude to create something that is refineable. The trade has a net benefit if you don't treat oil as some homogenous resource. This isn't even to mention geography conveniences: we export to Canada, Canada exports to us because the USA is a big country (and lots of Canadian shale goes to Texas to be refined).

IF we had an oil export tariff, the industry would get messed up quickly. It would survive, we would just have to shoulder higher costs for less efficient usage of resources.



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