In Rotterdam's Europoort, oil business goes on as usual. Giant tankers glide across the busy harbor to docks where workmen connect the ships to shiny umbilical pipes that drain their heavy cargoes of crude. Near by, five gigantic refineries crank out prodigious quantities of fuel for the thirsty North European market. The only abnormal thing about the scene is that it is not supposed to be happening. Like three other nations,* The Netherlands is still officially being embargoed by the Arab oil states that last month ended their five-month ban on exports to the U.S.
Shift in Shipments. The effect...