The Trump administration reportedly pressed Germany and France to release diesel from their emergency reserves, warning that Washington could prohibit US diesel exports if not.
The stress, reported Thursday by Reuters, came as President Trump considers curbing US diesel exports in an effort to scale back fuel costs forward of November’s midterm elections.
Washington is asking the European Union to release of 120 million barrels of diesel from reserves over a six-month period, a source primarily based in a European capital was quoted as saying.
President Trump speaks in the Oval Office on Wednesday. His administration has warned Germany and France to release emergency diesel shares or risk doable US restrictions on diesel exports. REUTERS
Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered the plan as an various to an outright ban on US exports of diesel, according to Politico.
European officers were discussing the subject Thursday, with the European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Britain holding a call on a doable release of diesel shares.
“It is in Europe’s best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers,” a Trump administration official informed The Post.
Washington believes Germany and France have fallen short of earlier pledges to draw down emergency oil and petroleum reserves, Reuters beforehand reported.
Wright said Wednesday that the administration expected Europe to announce extra diesel provides soon.
“We’ve lost some diesel exports from the Middle East, although we’re restoring those, and we’ve lost diesel exports from China,” Wright informed reporters.
The TotalEnergies refinery des Flandres is seen in Mardyck, close to Dunkerque, France, in 2022. Getty Images
“So that’s a lot of interruptions.”
Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland have the largest reserves in the EU, Politico famous. With 315 million barrels complete in the bloc’s reserves, the quantity requested by the Trump administration would come to a third of the reserves, the outlet added.
A French official said the diesel subject did not come up when Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron met in New York during the UN General Assembly last week, according to Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz converse to the media in Berlin on July 23, 2025. Getty Images
The official said Macron would carry G7 leaders collectively by video to handle increased fuel costs and provides of refined merchandise worldwide.
The talks will embrace coordination of reserve releases with the International Energy Agency, the official added.
The US approached one main European nation to speak diesel last week, a senior European official informed Politico.
“It was very hypothetical: ‘What do you think about Europe releasing some of the reserves in order to decrease prices, put pressure on supplies?’” the particular person was quoted as saying. “‘It could also help our government not to continue the discussion on the export ban.’”
Europe has become more and more reliant on US fuel after banning Russian imports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and after the US-Israeli conflict against Iran disrupted provides from the Middle East.
Germany’s financial ministry did not immediately reply a request for remark. Its French counterpart declined to remark.
