Trump backs ban on diesel exports
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President Trump during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City on Tuesday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump said Tuesday that he has called for a ban on U.S. diesel exports, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the administration is examining whether a full or partial ban is feasible.
Why it matters: Trump's endorsement marks a shift for an administration that has resisted calls to restrict fuel exports, as record diesel prices squeeze farmers and truckers and fuel Republican concerns ahead of the midterms.
- Economists and energy analysts the move could lower diesel prices for Americans in the short term but would likely raise prices globally including eventually in the U.S.
Zoom in: When asked during a press briefing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if he supported a diesel ban endorsed by other Republicans, Trump said that he had called for that too.
- "I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel, and it could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline because when you do that, you know it's a sort of a flow, it's a balance. But no, I've called for it. I've called for it within my people."
- Bessent, sitting beside Trump, said the administration was examining "whether it's feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity, and whether a full or a partial ban would work."
- When asked about the timeline of such a decision, Trump replied: "Fast, one way or the other."
Catch up quick: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently proposed blocking diesel exports, hoping to lower prices domestically, and other farm-state Republicans quickly signed on too.
- Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), who faces a competitive re-election race, called for a diesel ban Monday while slamming the war in Iran. Republicans in Michigan and Louisiana did the same.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said last week that he was "open" to an export ban.
Zoom in: A ban would keep diesel that otherwise would be exported in the U.S., potentially increasing domestic supplies and lowering prices in the short term.
- But analysts warn it could drive up global diesel prices and eventually feed higher costs back into the U.S. economy.
- The U.S. has rarely resorted to outright energy export bans because of concerns about disrupting global markets.
Flashback: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said last week the administration would consider an export ban if it would lower prices, "but that's not the case."
💠Thought bubble, via Axios Future of Energy co-author Ben Geman: The politics of $6.50 diesel are quickly overwhelming a broad consensus among oil market analysts that an export ban could ultimately backfire.
Zoom out: Trump does have emergency powers that could allow him to enforce a ban.
- Congress could also pass legislation to achieve the same goal, but Senate Republicans are significantly divided on the measure.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) questioned whether a ban was worth rocking global markets, calling it a "short-term" benefit … "that doesn't really move the needle."
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called it "a gimmick."
What they're saying: American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers said restricting U.S. energy exports would "only compound the problem," exacerbating refining challenges and ultimately hurting consumers.
- "The answer is more supply and more flexibility — not new restrictions that risk making a difficult situation worse," Sommers said.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.
Ben Geman contributed reporting.
