The Trump administration is considering diesel export restrictions to calm domestic prices

In this scenario, a spokeswoman for the European executive said that the EU Commission is in "contact with member states and the US administration" on a possible release of US oil supplies to avoid an export ban. "Tomorrow there will be an important meeting of the governing council of the International Energy Agency" to evaluate the hypothesis. "We are maintaining high-level contacts with the US administration. So there are a lot of meetings and contacts going on."

Trump's aides reportedly presented the president with several options, including the more drastic ones of blocking or limiting international diesel sales, with US administration officials briefing foreign allies, including the UK, on ​​possible supply disruptions, the Financial Times reported.

If Trump has so far managed to prevent petrol from exceeding 5 dollars a gallon, between the federal tax cuts and the pressure on producers, so as not to beat the historical record of 5.0165 dollars during the Biden administration, he has however been able to do nothing on diesel, which has soared to record levels in just a week: 6.5276 dollars, more than 70% more than the pre-war price.

The tycoon, in other words, "evaluates all the options on the table" to calm fuel prices on the domestic market, locked in the grip of a lobbying battle: on the one hand the Republican allies and the fears for the political impact of the surge in diesel prices which is equivalent to a drain on farmers - the hard core of the Trumpian electorate - and other sectors of American industry; on the other, the oil magnates, determined to preserve profitable exports. The Republicans from the agricultural regions, led by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, pushed for a stop to shipments, fearing the negative reaction of the electorate, already disheartened, according to polls, by economic uncertainties, inflation and the unpopular war on Iran. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune was skeptical about the export restrictions. "I have had discussions with various people: many of them fear that the measure would not have any positive effect, nor would they see any benefits in terms of impact on prices, while there would be long-term supply problems." And the administration is also divided: Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are against the crackdown on diesel.

According to a leading industry figure quoted by the Financial Times, last week the ban was "virtually close to materialising", but the White House then decided to start contacts with European allies on possible restrictions. So Wright spoke already on Monday with officials in London, while Bessent held talks with Robert Jenrick, a representative of Reform UK, who had asked Washington to renounce the ban or to exempt the United Kingdom. The Trump administration has urged European allies to use their diesel reserves and has discussed the possibility of asking China to increase production at its refineries.