There has been some eleventh-hour drama over the renegotiation of NAFTA, but the energy industry is likely going to dodge a bullet on that front, with the most contentious issues revolving around agriculture and automobiles. But even if the NAFTA renegotiation succeeds, the oil and gas industry has already taken a hit from Trump’s broader trade war. The most obvious impact comes from the 25 percent steel and 10 percent aluminum tariffs that the Trump administration has placed on a variety of countries, which have pushed up the cost of steel in the U.S., leading to cost inflation for oil and gas projects. Worse, the application system for waivers is cumbersome and time-consuming, and some companies are angry because precisely who obtains an exemption from the federal government seems to be arbitrary. For instance, as Reuters reported , Chevron received a waiver for importing a 4.5-inch steel pipe used […]