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Donald Trump said he was surprised that the OPEC nations did not lower the oil prices earlier.
US President Donald Trump is seen on a giant screen during his address by video conference at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. (IMAGE: AFP)
US President Donald Trump told world business leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland’s Davos on Thursday that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) can help end the Ukraine war by lowering oil prices.
“I am also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) to bring down the cost of oil. You have to bring it down, which, frankly, I am surprised they didn’t do before the election,” said Trump, who joined via video conference from Washington.
“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately. Right now, the price is high enough that the war will continue. You have to bring down the oil price, you have to end that war. They should have done it long ago,” the US President said.
He also said that he would ask help from China to end the war in Ukraine. He said that he wants the war to an end because young Ukrainians and Russians are dying and not from an “economic standpoint”.
During his address to the WEF, where he is a top draw, he said the US will not shy away from using fossil fuels to power its economy.
“The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we’re going to use it. Not only will this reduce the cost of virtually all goods and services, it will make the United States a manufacturing superpower.”
He also told business and world leaders that if they choose to make and build in America, they would be facing the “lowest taxes of any nation on earth”.
“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth,” Trump said.
“But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff.”
- Location :
Davos, Switzerland
