US says Europe should ready fuel supplies as Trump threatens diesel ban

What the report says

President Donald Trump said he is considering restricting US diesel exports and may ask European countries to release some of their own reserves, as Washington looks for ways to ease fuel prices at home. BBC World News reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged European partners to prepare supplies immediately, arguing that American farmers, truckers and businesses should not bear the cost of higher prices.

The discussion comes amid a global diesel shortage linked in the BBC’s report to the war in Iran and broader disruption to oil markets. The US is described as a major diesel supplier, exporting about 1.2 million to 1.5 million barrels a day, so any export curbs could affect fuel availability and prices well beyond the American market. Officials in Britain and Europe have already held talks about a possible coordinated response.

The timing is politically sensitive for Trump, with US elections approaching and control of Congress at stake. The BBC said he has framed the issue as a way to provide quick relief to drivers, truckers and businesses, while analysts warned that limiting US exports could push international prices even higher. In the UK, diesel prices have also reached record levels, and the government says it is engaged with allies while monitoring supply conditions.