President Donald Trump has called for a possible pause in exporting diesel fuel from the United States as prices rise sharply. Trump said he had previously urged the U.S. to stop sending out diesel and emphasized that the country produces plenty of it domestically.
Trump made the comments during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He was responding to questions about calls from Republican lawmakers for restrictions on diesel exports.
Trump said he had already discussed the idea within his administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said officials were examining whether an export restriction would be practical.
“We’re examining whether it’s feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity and whether a full or partial ban would work,” Bessent said.
His comments come amid a sharp increase in diesel prices across both Europe and the United States, according to The Guardian. The rise is linked to supply disruptions caused by conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, which have limited exports from major producers like Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The average U.S. diesel price reached about $6.53 a gallon on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have further tightened global diesel supplies. Russia has also reduced fuel exports as attacks have damaged refining operations.
Trump noted during his meeting with Zelensky that such attacks have hurt Russian energy output. He also said the strikes were affecting diesel prices. Trump said he and Zelensky would discuss the attacks and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Several Republican lawmakers have urged the administration to take steps that they say could ease financial pressure from high fuel prices.
U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa, who is running for the Senate, has called for limiting diesel exports. She said rising fuel costs connected to the war in Iran were hurting consumers at gas stations and stores.
Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska also called for a temporary pause on diesel exports to rebuild domestic reserves. Sullivan said the moratorium should continue until the conflict involving Iran ends and energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal.
The U.S. government is currently evaluating whether a full or partial ban on diesel exports would be effective without harming refinery operations. Bessent said the administration was studying the effect a restriction could have on refining capacity.
The proposal has also drawn opposition from the refining industry. The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers said restricting exports could cause U.S. refineries to reduce production. The group argued that producing less diesel would also mean producing less gasoline.
That means an export restriction could have effects beyond diesel prices. It could also tighten supplies in foreign markets and affect gasoline production in the United States.
U.S. refineries have recently been producing more than 5 million barrels per day of distillate fuel. Distillate fuel includes diesel and heating oil. Recent export volumes have also been high as global supplies have tightened.
Cutting those shipments could affect countries that buy U.S. fuel. The Netherlands and United Kingdom have become important destinations for American distillate exports as Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian fuel. U.S. diesel exports to Europe have increased since sanctions changed global trade patterns.
The political urgency around diesel prices is especially high ahead of the November midterm elections. Republican candidates in several competitive races have called for export restrictions or other measures aimed at lowering fuel costs.
High diesel prices are particularly important for farmers, trucking companies and industries that depend heavily on fuel. Diesel costs can also affect the price of moving food and other goods around the country.
No diesel export ban has been announced. The administration is still examining whether such a move would lower domestic prices without creating other supply problems.
Trump’s proposal has sparked debate over how to balance domestic fuel supplies with the effects an export restriction could have on refineries and overseas buyers.