Oil prices declined in early European trading on Tuesday as investors assessed limited near-term disruption to global supply from European sanctions on Russia, while mounting fears of a transatlantic trade dispute also weighed on sentiment.

Brent crude futures (BZ=F) slipped 0.6% to trade at $68.81 per barrel, at the time of writing, while West Texas Intermediate futures retreated 0.5% to $66.88 a barrel.

Market attention has turned to a possible trade rift between the US and the European Union, amid reports that Washington is seeking to impose tariffs of at least 15% on EU imports. Brussels is said to be preparing retaliatory measures in response.

Uncertainty over US trade policy is also casting a shadow over consumer confidence and broader economic prospects for the second half of the year. The International Energy Agency, in its July report, forecast global oil demand to rise by just 700,000 barrels per day in 2025, its slowest pace of growth since 2009.

Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, said: “Broad demand concerns continue to simmer amid escalating global trade tensions, especially as markets eye the latest tariff threats between major economies and Trump’s potential announcements ahead of [the] 1 August deadline.”

Analysts at ANZ wrote that the “trade deal impasse could hurt economic activity and thus crude oil demand”, particularly if the US moves forward with steep tariffs on EU goods.

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