US Weighs Easing Shadow Fleet Tanker Sanctions to Lower Record Freight Rates

The Trump administration is exploring plans to ease sanctions on shadow fleet oil tankers linked to Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to curb record-high freight rates. Under the proposed framework, vessels could haul non-sanctioned oil and petroleum products with explicit authorization from the US Treasury Department. The effort aims to expand US crude exports and lower consumer fuel prices ahead of midterm elections. This deliberation follows a temporary sanctions waiver on Russian diesel fuel lasting through April 7. However, analysts caution that European Union and UK maritime insurance regulations may limit the market impact.