The amendment would prevent the U.S.Export-Import Bank from entering into any deals with foreign companies that significantly contribute to Iran's refined petroleum resources, part of efforts to pressure Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program.
VOA: standard.2009.06.23
According to the report, a surge in the petroleumimport bill and a decrease in the surplus on income accounted for the deficit's increase.
"I think that the answer to reducing our petroleum-import problem and reducing the carbon emissions from transportation is really threefold, " he said.