The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that the White House may have blamed Exxon Mobil for high energy prices, but it would struggle to thwart its contemplated $60-billion (U.S.) acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, several lawyers said on Friday. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that talks between Exxon and Pioneer are advanced but have not yet led to an agreement. The acquisition would give Exxon ownership of the largest producer in the biggest U.S. oil field. U.S. President Joe Biden has blasted energy companies for their surging profits as gasoline prices soared at the pump, and his administration has been especially critical of Exxon for not raising production despite its record earnings. The White House wrote to Federal Trade Commission chairman Lina Khan in 2021 asking her to scrutinize deals in the sector for "anti-consumer behaviour." The lawyers and experts interviewed said the FTC would face an uphill struggle in challenging Exxon's attempted acquisition of Pioneer. This is because oil and gas companies have been effective in arguing that U.S. mergers alone cannot stifle competition, as commodity prices are dictated by supply and demand forces in a vast global market.