Because the US is the largest exporter of petroleum products in the world.

There was a Planet Money episode that broke down where the $4/gallon went in 2022:

$2.40 for the price of crude oil when priced at $100/barrel.

$0.65 to the refiner that turns crude oil into gasoline (this was the prevailing spread in 2022, maybe different now).

$0.184 in federal taxes

$0.30 in state taxes

$0.20 to $0.50 for transportation from the refiner to the actual retail station.

Remainder is for the retailer (usually about $0.30 but fluctuates wildly).

That's how it is in the U.S. In other countries, it might be higher taxes, higher cost of refining, higher costs of transportation from the refiner, and higher margins for the retailer.

Low taxes, high production, and government corn subsidies.

Political choices and lobbying

I was thinking that. Hot fuck is that cheap.

Probably before VAT.