US urges Europe to free up diesel supplies as Trump weighs export ban

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged European allies to make diesel supplies available immediately. In a social media post, he said European partners should accelerate delivery on existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available. On Thursday, the US urged European countries to release diesel reserves or supplies to help lower prices.

Also on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he may ask European countries to release diesel reserves. He has also said he is considering a possible ban on US diesel exports.

Diesel prices have risen sharply since the start of the war in Iran, according to France 24 and the BBC. The US holds midterm elections in November, with control of Congress at stake. Fuel costs are a political issue ahead of the vote.

Reported details

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include the full text of Bessent's post. The quoted portion does not explicitly mention strategic reserves.

According to France 24, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he was still considering an export ban. He said it could ultimately cause gasoline prices to rise. The reports do not say whether he has formally asked any European government to release reserves.

France 24 and SCMP, in identical wording, cited unattributed reports that the administration wants France and Germany in particular to draw on their diesel stockpiles. The reports do not include a response from the German government.

EU member states will meet the European Commission on Friday to discuss a coordinated response to fuel prices, according to a Commission spokesman. The BBC reported that Britain held talks with European partners on Thursday about a possible release of diesel reserves in response to any US ban.

According to AAA data cited by France 24, average US diesel prices have risen more than 70 percent since the war began, to $6.39 a gallon. The BBC reported that the war began in February.

What is disputed

Outlets describe the war differently. France 24, which credits its report to AFP, and SCMP both refer to "the US war on Iran". The BBC refers to "the US-Israel war in Iran".

What each side says

The BBC quoted Bessent as saying: "American farmers, truckers, and businesses should not be left carrying the burden."

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said a US export ban would be "unexpected for Europeans" and that "it would have very dramatic consequences for our economic performance", according to France 24.

French minister delegate for international trade Nicolas Forissier told AFP: "I can't imagine that there will be a ban."

A UK government spokesperson said, according to the BBC: "We have a diverse and resilient supply."

David Fyfe, chief economist at Argus Media, said cutting off US diesel supply would likely cause international prices to rise sharply, the BBC reported.

Analysis

The situation links US domestic fuel politics with European energy security. If European governments release stocks, pressure on prices could ease, although the reports do not show volumes or specific commitments. If the US moves toward an export ban, a French minister who spoke to AFP indicated France would look to other countries for supplies, while a source familiar with UK talks with European counterparts told the BBC it was prudent to prepare a coordinated response. An Argus Media economist warned that international prices would likely rise in that case. Friday's EU meeting and the G7 video call that French President Emmanuel Macron plans for mid-October may show whether a coordinated approach emerges. None of these outcomes is settled.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.