RE: OPEC+ Deal failed?10 Apr 2020 20:39
deal to cut oil production and save the market from a coronavirus-induced breakdown proved elusive on Friday as a diplomatic initiative led by Saudi Arabia suffered repeated setbacks.
After two days of talks, it remained unclear whether OPEC+ had resolved the differences with Mexico that would allow its agreement for a record 10 million barrel-a-day supply reduction to proceed. A meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20, which the cartel had hoped could add another 5 million barrels a day of cuts, ended with a generic statement that didn’t commit to any specific supply reductions, according to a delegate.
The diplomatic obstacles cast doubt on efforts to revive the market from a debilitating slump in prices to the lowest in almost two decades, which hasthat’s exposed governments and companies around the world to severe financial pressure.
It was now up to Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump -- who instigated the whole deal -- to salvage something.