U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns Trump of Gas Price Risks from Prolonged Conflict

Deep News
04/13

The Trump administration is intensively assessing the economic costs and policy responses related to the Iran conflict. Treasury Secretary Bescent has directly warned the President that if hostilities extend to 8-12 weeks, the United States faces vulnerability to rising gasoline prices, with Asia and Europe expected to bear the heaviest impact from energy price shocks. According to a report on April 12, informed sources revealed that Secretary Bescent has briefed President Trump on the correlation between the duration of the conflict and potential market reactions and economic trends. The report indicates that Bescent and the President discussed potential response measures available to the Treasury Department should the conflict persist for 8-12 weeks, alongside an assessment of U.S. exposure to gasoline price increases. The Treasury Secretary explicitly stated his belief that Asia and Europe would be the most vulnerable regions to energy price surges stemming from the war. Economic pressures are already becoming evident in market conditions: U.S. consumer prices rose 3.3% year-over-year in March, up from 2.4% in February; oil prices briefly surpassed $100 per barrel; and gasoline prices climbed above $4 per gallon. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned in a letter to shareholders that a prolonged conflict could trigger "significant and sustained oil price and commodity price shocks," potentially leading to stickier inflation and ultimately higher interest rates. Bescent's core warning identifies the 8-12 week period as a critical timeframe. The report states that Bescent and Trump specifically discussed how the conflict's duration would affect the U.S. economic trajectory. They focused on scenarios where fighting continues for 8-12 weeks and the policy tools the Treasury could deploy during that period. During discussions, Bescent particularly emphasized that Asia and Europe have greater exposure to energy price increases than the United States itself. This assessment implies that even if U.S. gasoline prices face upward pressure, the shock to global energy markets would hit Asian and European economies—which are more dependent on Middle Eastern crude—more severely. Meanwhile, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has also advised the President on the potential economic impacts of the war, a senior administration official confirmed. A White House spokesperson stated that the administration has been working with business representatives to mitigate the conflict's effects. Last month, the Treasury Department issued a short-term authorization allowing the sale of Iranian oil already in transit by sea, viewed as one temporary measure to ease supply pressures. According to the report, CEOs of three major U.S. oil companies recently privately warned Trump administration officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. These executives indicated that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would severely constrict global fuel supply chains and potentially exacerbate the energy crisis. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital passage for approximately 20% of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth stated last month at an energy conference in Houston that financial markets have not fully grasped the severity of potential physical oil flow disruptions. At the same conference, Wright and Burgum told oil executives that strait transit issues would be resolved within weeks rather than months. However, according to sources, some executives privately expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceived as overly optimistic government statements, noting that the uncertainty of the conflict makes business investment planning extremely difficult. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reiterated in his recent shareholder letter that continued conflict could lead to "sustained significant oil price and commodity price shocks, along with a reshaping of global supply chains, potentially resulting in more persistent inflation and ultimately higher interest rates." Not all voices share this pessimistic economic outlook. Matt Coday, founder and president of the Oil and Gas Workers Association, stated he does not believe the U.S. economy will suffer significant impact, characterizing gasoline price increases as "temporary fluctuations." The economic effects of the war have extended to the U.S. agricultural sector. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently told agricultural lobbyists that she would bring the issue of rising fertilizer prices directly to the President, a statement confirmed by American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland in an interview. According to American Farm Bureau Federation data, approximately half of global urea (a nitrogen-based fertilizer) supply and nearly one-third of ammonia supply typically transit through the Strait of Hormuz. A blockade directly threatens raw material supplies for U.S. agricultural production. "For our farmers, this is an emergency situation. We need that supply route reopened," Ragland said. He indicated that the agricultural sector's message to Rollins and other government officials aligns with that of other economic stakeholders: the conflict should not be prolonged.

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