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June 2008

NOPEC Hypocrisy

Written by , Posted in Energy and the Environment

H.R. 2264: No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 (NOPEC):

The Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 7 the following:

`Sec. 7A. (a) It shall be illegal and a violation of this Act for any foreign state, or any instrumentality or agent of any foreign state, to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state, any instrumentality or agent of any other foreign state, or any other person, whether by cartel or any other association or form of cooperation or joint action–

    `(1) to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product;

    `(2) to set or maintain the price of oil, natural gas, or any petroleum product; or

    `(3) to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for oil, natural gas, or any petroleum product;

when such action, combination, or collective action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or other petroleum product in the United States.

The bill passed the House 345-72.

Unsurprisingly it would only apply to foreign states, exempting the organization most responsible for restricting supply: the U.S. Congress.