On September 24, 2026, various oil, gas, and business groups urged President Donald Trump to avoid implementing a diesel export ban amid rising diesel prices. In a letter to the president, organizations including the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated, "We urge you to reject calls to ban or otherwise limit the exports of diesel and other products that have made the U.S. energy industry so strong." They argued that an export ban would lead to decreased fuel production, tighter supplies, and increased costs for consumers.
The American Petroleum Institute has historically supported Trump’s energy policies but has expressed strong opposition to the potential export ban. Reports from Politico indicated that the White House is considering such a ban, although officials have denied these preparations. Some congressional Republicans have called for the ban as a response to rising energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions, particularly with Iran.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) endorsed the idea of a ban, stating on X, "I hope WH doesn't listen to Big Oil who claim diesel export ban won't work. Big Oil doesn't need to charge sky-high diesel prices for Iowa farmers and truckers just filling up."
Opposition to the ban also comes from within Trump’s cabinet. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have both rejected calls for an export ban. Wright stated at a Climate Week event, "The blunt tool of banning diesel exports definitely doesn’t work," explaining that such a ban would lead to reduced U.S. refining and increased gasoline and jet fuel prices. Burgum echoed this sentiment, noting that they would only consider an export ban if it could lower prices, which he believes it cannot.
Market analysts agree that a diesel export ban would likely lead to higher gasoline prices in the long run. Currently, U.S. producers export about 30% of their diesel production. A ban could force domestic producers to cut production rates, which would also affect gasoline production due to the interconnected nature of refining processes.
The business groups warned that the Northeast U.S. would be particularly affected, as it relies on imported fuel. They noted that higher prices would come at a challenging time as home heating oil season approaches. The U.S. had a crude oil export ban from 1975 until 2015, after which it became a net exporter of petroleum products. Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst, emphasized that the U.S. is not short of diesel, but the global market is, arguing that an export ban would misinterpret the issue as solely a domestic problem.