U.S. lawmakers urge Biden to support 'economically strangled' Kurdistan

FILE PHOTO: Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reacts during his meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (unseen) inside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain April 19, 2022. Daniel Leal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - A new U.S. approach is needed to facilitate the re-opening of a pipeline between Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and Turkey, a trio of U.S. congressmen urged President Biden in a letter seen by Reuters.

The pipeline contributes about 0.5% of global oil supply, and has been shut since March, costing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) roughly $4 billion in lost exports, according to two sources familiar with the matter.