A recent GZERO/Abacus Data poll asked 1,500 eligible voters which country currently supplies the most oil and gas to the United States. While 53% of Americans believe Saudi Arabia is the biggest source of foreign oil, only 22% correctly said Canada. However, Canada actually supplies 61.6% of all U.S. crude oil imports—with 4.0 million barrels per day, far surpassing any other country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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So, if you ask most Americans which country sends the most oil to the U.S., they'd probably say Saudi Arabia. It makes sense—Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest oil producers, and people often hear about its role in global energy as it is often in the news when it comes to oil prices and production. The nation is a member of OPEC, a consortium of oil-producing countries that affects world supplies. In the meantime, despite Canada’s significant contribution to US oil imports, its oil receives little public attention.

Where Does U.S. Foreign Oil Actually Come From?

According to 2024 data from the Canadian Energy Centre, the top suppliers of foreign oil to the U.S. are:

• Canada – 61.6%
• Mexico – 9.6%
• Saudi Arabia – 4.3%
• Colombia – 3.8%
• Venezuela – 3.3%

Not only is Saudi Arabia far from being the largest supplier, but it doesn't even come in second place. Mexico provides more oil to the U.S. than Saudi Arabia does.

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Why is Canadian Oil so Important?

The U.S. and Canada have a strong energy relationship, and Canada sends most of its oil to the U.S. through pipelines. While the U.S. does produce its own oil, a lot of it is light crude. The problem is that many American refineries are built to process heavy crude, which Canada supplies in abundance.

Key reasons why U.S. refineries rely on Canadian oil are heavy crude processing, pipeline access and energy security. 

Many U.S. refineries, especially in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, are specifically designed to handle heavy crude from Canada, not the light crude produced domestically or from Saudi Arabia.

Unlike oil from the Middle East, which must be shipped across the ocean, Canadian oil is delivered directly through pipelines, making it cheaper and more reliable.

While oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela is vulnerable to production cuts and geopolitical threats, Canada is a stable and friendly neighbor.

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Trump's Tariffs Disrupt This Balance

On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, including a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products. These tariffs are supposedly meant to address concerns about immigration and drug trafficking, but they could also make oil and gas more expensive in the U.S.

After Canada and Mexico announced retaliatory tariffs and agreed to reinforce their countries’ borders, Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on the measures to allow negotiations. However, if the tariffs go into full effect, they could reshape North American trade relationships and force the U.S. to seek alternative, less reliable oil sources.

In theory, the U.S. could import more oil from Saudi Arabia or Venezuela, but it wouldn't be an easy swap. 

With Trump's new tariffs looming, this reliance is being tested. If trade restrictions on Canadian oil go into effect, the impact on fuel prices and economic stability could be significant.

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