Washington just turned Europe’s emergency diesel tanks into a midterm bargaining chip. The Trump administration has told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel inventories to help ease global fuel prices — or face a potential U.S. diesel export ban — according to three people close to the talks, Reuters reported exclusively on Oct. 1.
A European-based source said the U.S. asked the EU to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters Wednesday that Washington expected announcements soon from Europe about new diesel supplies, citing lost Middle East and China diesel exports.
An EU official said the European Commission plus Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and Britain were holding a Thursday call on possible stock releases. Germany’s economy ministry did not immediately comment; France’s energy ministry declined. An Élysée official said Macron and Trump did not discuss the issue at UNGA — but that Macron would convene a G7 leaders video conference on rising fuel prices and refined-product availability with the IEA.
Europe leans harder on U.S. fuel after banning Russian imports over Ukraine and after Middle East flows were disrupted by the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran. Trump wants lower pump prices before November’s midterms. Allies just got the invoice.
Sources: Reuters
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