EU Raises Concern Over Reported US Plan to Curb Diesel Exports

The European Union has voiced concern over reports that the United States could move to restrict diesel exports, including shipments bound for Europe, cautioning that such a step would carry consequences for both sides of the Atlantic.

Speaking at the EU's midday press briefing in Brussels, European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill said the bloc views the reported plans with concern. He described EU-US energy cooperation as strong, stable and mutually beneficial, and said any disruption would risk harming both partners. Gill added that high-level contacts between the European Commission and the US administration are continuing, and that close partners are expected to consult one another before adopting measures that affect shared markets.

A second Commission spokesperson, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, said there is currently no concrete shortage of diesel in the EU. She noted that the bloc is a major importer of US diesel and remains a solid and attractive market for American suppliers, with imports running at around 50 percent as of August this year.

Itkonen said the EU's oil coordination group will meet next Tuesday, giving member states an opportunity to take stock of conditions in fuel markets. The Commission has pointed to diversified sources of crude oil and refined products in assessing the EU's overall fuel supply position.

The reported US restrictions come amid sharply higher diesel prices in the United States and tight global fuel supplies. Diesel is a key input for farmers, truckers and a range of industries, and Europe has grown increasingly dependent on imported refined fuels.