The conventional media narrative on crude oil exports – pitting producers in favor of exports against domestic refiners who supposedly are opposed – is actually a lot more nuanced than that. After all, as I pointed out recently, ExxonMobil is the nation’s largest refiner and we believe that restrictions on crude oil exports should be lifted.

Turns out we are not the only refiner who thinks it’s time for the export ban to go.

Last week an executive for Tesoro stated unequivocally his company’s support for free trade in energy.

“We support lifting the ban without condition,” said Tesoro vice president Stephen Brown in an article in Platts Commodity News. Unfortunately, the article is behind a paywall, so let me highlight a few of his notable quotes because they deserve wider circulation.

After explaining that Tesoro’s support for free trade is “a matter of principle,” Mr. Brown told Platts:

You either support that [free trade] principle or you don’t. … We’re exporting a lot of finished product and wouldn’t want that to go away. So how do you logically walk up to the Hill and say “Continue our ability to export finished product, but you better stop those nasty producers from selling their product overseas.” I just think, logically, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Good for Mr. Brown for having the integrity to speak out for all the benefits and opportunities that flow from free trade and free markets. The law currently places no restrictions on exporting finished products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, a situation refiners like just fine. So it seems disingenuous for some to insist that the crude oil feedstock they run through their refineries be closed to global markets.

As to whether the refining sector would be badly disadvantaged by free trade – the claim commonly made by exports opponents – Mr. Brown said:

We don’t think that if you lift the ban that, frankly, the status quo would change [much]. … There’s always going to be a built in advantage for domestic refiners for domestic product, the transportation costs are just going to be far less for the most part. We’re not convinced that the disruption is going to be as great as some people fear.

As the debate on repealing the ban continues – and I’ll note that a House subcommittee will be voting on the issue tomorrow – let’s hope such a principled stand gets the attention it deserves.