[Source/Observer Network Qi Qian] According to Bloomberg's April 17 report, amid US President Trump's insistence on provoking a trade war, China's importers have cut their purchases of American oil by approximately 90%, and are now importing a record amount of Canadian crude oil.

Data from Vortexa Ltd., which tracks waterborne oil and gas transportation, shows that in March, the volume of crude oil imported from Vancouver, Canada surged to an unprecedented 7.3 million barrels, and this month is expected to exceed that number.

Meanwhile, the volume of crude oil imported from the United States has plummeted sharply from a peak of 29 million barrels in June last year to around 3 million barrels per month.

Data shows that China is shifting from U.S. oil to Canadian oil. Chart by Bloomberg.

Bloomberg noted that China - the world's largest crude oil importer - seeking more oil from Canada instead of the U.S. is another example of how Trump's administration's attempt to reshape global trade relations has caused economic and strategic chaos.

The report pointed out that less than a year ago, the expansion project of the western Canadian pipeline provided more access for China and other East Asian oil importers to the abundant crude oil reserves in Alberta's oil sands region.

In May last year, the expansion project of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) began transporting oil from Alberta to the Pacific coast port of British Columbia. Since then, China's demand for Canadian crude oil has started to grow. This trend accelerated further after Trump took office in January this year.

"Given the ongoing trade war, China is unlikely to increase its imports of American oil," said Jiang Wenran, director of the Canada-China Energy and Environment Forum, in a telephone interview. "China will not only rely on Russia or the Middle East; any supply of oil from Canada will be good news."

The report stated that although the oil imported from North America is negligible compared to the Middle East and Russia, Canada's oil sands are one of the few sources of dense, high-sulfur crude oil, and many of China's most advanced refineries have the capability to process this type of crude oil. Canadian crude oil is relatively cheaper than similar grades of Middle Eastern crude oil for Asian refiners.

On the same day, the Financial Times published an article stating that Trump's insistence on provoking a trade war with China has made American oil producers uneasy. Many senior executives and experts in the American industry warned that tariffs severely weaken the competitiveness of American energy exports and push up extraction costs. As China consolidates its leading position in clean technology, it may replace the United States as the world's dominant energy superpower.

Among them, the American consulting firm Wood Mackenzie pointed out in its report "From Top-Down Hardline: Threats to American Energy Dominance" that tariff measures may make it more difficult for American oil producers to compete in their "most attractive export markets."

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