US tells France and Germany to release diesel stocks or face US export ban, sources say
Source: By Kate Abnett, Jarrett Renshaw and John Irish, Reuters • Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Trump administration has told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel inventories to help to ease global fuel prices or face a potential US diesel export ban, said three people close to the discussions. The warning marks an escalation of pressure on Europe as US President Donald Trump considers a potential diesel export ban to bring down US fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Britain were holding a call on Thursday to discuss the possible need to release diesel stocks, an EU official told Reuters. The US administration has been particularly frustrated with France and Germany, which US officials believe have not fully followed through on earlier commitments to release emergency oil and petroleum stocks, Reuters has reported previously. A second source, based in a European capital, said that the US has asked the EU to release 120 million barrels of diesel in the next six months.