Oil prices fall as tariff deadline looms

Oil prices declined for a third consecutive session on Tuesday on concerns the brewing trade war between major crude consumers the United States and the European Union will curb fuel demand growth by reducing economic activity.

Brent crude futures were down 49 cents, or 0.7%, to $68.72 a barrel at 0915 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.60 a barrel, down 60 cents, or 0.9%.

The August WTI contract expires on Tuesday and the more active September contract was down 47 cents, or 0.7%, to $65.48 a barrel.

"Oil prices fell for a third straight session ... as urgency builds in trade negotiations between the U.S. and its partners," Soojin Kim, an analyst at bank MUFG, said in a note.

The Trump administration has set an August 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals or face steep tariffs.

The EU is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats.

The U.S. has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU imports if a deal is not reached.

A weaker dollar has limited some losses for crude as buyers using other currencies are paying relatively less.

Prices have slipped "as trade war concerns offset the support by a softer (U.S. dollar)," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore wrote in a note.

Stronger distillate profit margins due to low inventories are also supporting crude prices.

"The move lower might have seen more momentum if it were not for the continued performance in distillates which continues to be aided by low stocks," PVM Oil analyst John Evans said in a note.

Meanwhile, a Reuters poll of analysts showed U.S. crude oil inventories likely fell by about 600,000 barrels in the week to July 18.

(Additional reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru and Sudarshan Varadhan in Singapore Editing by Jamie Freed, Mark Potter and Joe Bavier)