White House denies report on potential diesel export ban plan

On the previous day, Trump himself stated he had urged such a measure, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the administration is evaluating the feasibility of either a full or partial prohibition.

"I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel, and it could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline because when you do that, you know it's a sort of a flow, it's a balance. But no, I've called for it. I've called for it within my people," Trump said.

The White House is now labelling as 'fake news' a Politico report alleging that the administration is preparing a 90-day diesel export ban. The report cited five individuals familiar with the matter but noted that the legal framework was still being established. One possible rationale is that officials want to prevent preemptive trading on such a ban, though Trump has already disclosed his position, rendering the situation inconsistent.

A US ban on diesel exports would represent a drastic step that would permanently damage the country's standing as a dependable supplier of commodities and commodity-related goods, and would likely provoke retaliatory measures.