What happened
US allies have responded to President Donald Trump's call for more emergency oil by promising to release barrels they had already pledged in March, but not yet delivered. The Group of Seven nations agreed to release 100 million barrels of crude and diesel over four months.
The United States is drawing 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The International Energy Agency's governments hold about 1.1 billion barrels in public emergency stocks, with over 200 million of them being diesel.
Energy experts say the US share of the release reflects the country's high petroleum usage. They also note that the global shortfall of diesel exports, largely due to lost refining capacity in the Persian Gulf, is a significant issue that needs to be addressed.
Some experts argue that the US should push allies to deliver on their emergency release commitments and expand American production and refining capacity. Others suggest that increasing supply, rather than managing scarce supplies, is the key to lasting price relief.
