US Administration Weighs 90-Day Diesel Export Ban to Curb Energy Prices

The Trump administration is preparing a plan to ban diesel exports for 90 days, according to people familiar with the discussions, as it seeks to bring down energy prices that are weighing on Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

The proposal has exposed divisions both within the administration and with the oil industry, the people said. The reported plan would temporarily halt overseas shipments of diesel, a move aimed at easing domestic supply pressures and lowering costs for consumers.

Details of the plan, including when it might take effect or how it would be implemented, were not immediately clear. The discussions remain at a preparatory stage, and it is not certain whether the measure will be finalised or announced.

The potential export ban comes as energy prices have become a central political concern in the run-up to the midterms, with the administration under pressure to act on fuel costs. A diesel export ban would mark a significant intervention in energy markets, which have already been unsettled by global supply disruptions.

The oil industry is expected to oppose the move, and the internal disagreements suggest the proposal could still be revised or shelved. No final decision has been reported.