U.S. and global oil futures declined on Thursday as a hefty rise in last week’s U.S. supplies and uncertainty surrounding tariff disputes helped to weaken the outlook for crude demand, prompting prices to settle at their lowest levels of the year.

Oil prices fell more than 2% on Wednesday as a large build in U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles signalled demand weakness while concern about a new China-U.S. trade war fuelled fears of softer economic growth.

Oil prices on the New York commodity exchange are dropping after China imposed tariffs on American goods, including oil and liquefied natural gas. Brokers report that investors are also worried about US sanctions on Iran.

Oil prices edged up on Thursday after Saudi Arabia's state oil company raised its March crude prices sharply, but the gains barely dented the previous day's slide in benchmark Brent crude. Brent crude futures rose 44 cents,

In response to Donald Trump’s statements regarding pressure on OPEC-plus to reduce oil prices and the potential impact on the budgets of

"Despite the 'energy emergency' claims, the US is producing energy in record quantities," JPMorgan Asset Management wrote.