President Trump has expressed support for a possible ban on US diesel exports as domestic pump prices reach record levels, OilPrice.com reported. The proposal remains under consideration, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying the administration was assessing whether export restrictions would be effective and whether any measure should cover some or all shipments.
Speaking on the sidelines of this week’s UN General Assembly, Trump said he had urged members of his administration to keep US-produced diesel at home, according to Reuters remarks carried by OilPrice.com. The outlet cited AAA data showing the national average diesel price at $6.5276 on Tuesday, providing the backdrop to calls for restrictions on overseas sales.
The proposal has gained support in Congress but faces opposition from senior energy officials. Representative Tim Burchett introduced a bill last week after the idea surfaced earlier this month, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune has endorsed the proposal. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum oppose an export ban, arguing that it would prove counterproductive, according to the report.
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan also called on Tuesday for a temporary suspension of American diesel exports. In a statement quoted by Reuters and reproduced by OilPrice.com, he argued that retaining fuel domestically would allow reserves to be replenished before winter and give priority to US households, including those in Alaska. His intervention added to legislative pressure for action against high diesel costs.
The domestic debate comes amid constraints on diesel supplies elsewhere. OilPrice.com reported that Russia had barred its own diesel exports following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries, while the US and Israeli war with Iran was disrupting Middle Eastern diesel exports. Trump had earlier attributed rising US diesel prices to Ukraine’s refinery attacks and urged President Zelensky to halt them. The report presented those overseas disruptions as contributing to the wider diesel supply squeeze.