EU warns Trump diesel export ban could hit both sides

The European Commission has warned that a proposed US ban on diesel exports could disrupt shared fuel markets and push up prices on both sides of the Atlantic. The warning came after reports that Donald Trump was considering a 90-day export ban as a temporary response to high pump prices in the United States. Officials in Brussels said any such move would risk harming both Europe and the US.

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A spokesperson for the European Commission said on Thursday that any disruption would risk negatively impacting both sides and that close partners should consult each other before taking measures affecting shared markets. Trump has reportedly discussed the idea as a way to provide relief to US households before the midterm elections, after US diesel reached a record average of $6.52 a gallon. US energy secretary Chris Wright has also described an export ban as a blunt tool that could damage US fuel supplies in the longer term.

The potential impact on Europe is being watched closely because US diesel exports have become a major source of supply. According to the supplied report, US diesel exports made up a third of Europe's imports this year, and by August the US was supplying about half of Europe's diesel imports. The same report said supplies from war-damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia had fallen sharply, leaving Europe more exposed to any interruption in transatlantic flows.

The issue matters because fuel prices are already elevated in parts of Europe. Pump prices have reached record highs in Germany and the Netherlands, while motorists in the UK may be only days away from fresh all-time highs, according to the supplied report. That has increased pressure on political leaders to limit the impact on households and businesses, especially if replacement supplies are difficult to secure quickly.

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The warning also highlights the wider sensitivity of energy trade between the US and Europe. Diesel is a key transport and industrial fuel, so even a temporary restriction could affect logistics, heating costs and broader inflation pressures. Traders are now assessing how dependent Europe has become on US supply and whether other exporters could fill the gap if Washington moved ahead.

What remains unclear is whether the US administration will proceed with the proposed ban, and if so, how long it would last. It is also not clear what consultation, if any, would take place with European partners before a decision. For now, markets are focused on the possibility of tighter supply and further price rises if the proposal advances.

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