A growing number of Republican legislators are urging President Donald Trump to impose a ban on diesel exports, citing the severe impact of high prices on farmers and truckers. According to AAA, US national average diesel prices recently hit $6.53, representing an increase of over 70% since the US and Israel reportedly struck Iran in February. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been a prominent voice in this call, stating on social media that high diesel prices are "KILLING FARMERS INCOME." Other Republican figures, including Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, have also advocated for an export ban, with Burchett introducing legislation to that effect and Landry calling for a 90-day ban.
Despite the pressure from within his party, a White House official has indicated that an export ban is not currently on the table. However, some Republicans from oil-producing states, such as Senator John Cornyn of Texas, are pushing back against the proposed ban, labeling it a "gimmick." The American Petroleum Institute (API), represented by CEO Mike Sommers, has also warned that restricting diesel exports would exacerbate the problem, leading to a surplus in Gulf Coast states and potentially increasing costs in other parts of the country due to market imbalances. Sommers specifically noted that the US supplies 1.5 million barrels daily of the 8 million barrels of diesel traded globally by sea, and removing nearly 20% of this supply could drive up global prices.
Historically, the US last imposed oil product export controls during the 1970s energy crises, with crude exports banned until 2015. In 2022, President Biden explored refining export restrictions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine but ultimately did not take action. The current push for a ban comes as national average diesel prices reached an all-time high of $6.51 per gallon, creating significant economic strain on critical sectors ahead of the midterm elections.
