The White House is weighing new restrictions on diesel exports, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from a European energy official and from an outside adviser to President Donald Trump who warns it would undermine the administration's own energy strategy.
According to reporting by Politico, the administration is considering curbs on diesel shipments overseas, with options ranging from a full 90-day ban to more gradual limits. The deliberations come as U.S. diesel prices have climbed from $3.74 to $6.52 a gallon over the past year, putting pressure on the White House to act on domestic costs.
The oil and gas industry has fiercely resisted the idea, warning that export limits could hurt American producers in foreign markets. That industry pushback was cited by an Eastern European energy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions, as evidence of how little influence foreign governments have with the administration.
«If they're not listening to their own people, why would they listen to us?» the official said.
The official added that a broader diplomatic breakdown has made formal outreach pointless, describing official channels as slow and ineffective.
«With this administration, official channels tend to be a slow waste of time,» the official said. «And yet that's exactly why official channels are supposed to work. If everyone tries to get in through the back door, the back door becomes the front door.»
The concerns are not limited to foreign governments. An outside adviser to the Trump administration, also granted anonymity, warned that capping diesel exports would undercut the president's pledge to keep allies supplied with American energy.
«This is going to damage our reputation,» the adviser said. «The whole premise of energy dominance was that the United States would be able to supply our allies around the world. Curtailing that is going to raise question marks.»
The potential restrictions arrive at a delicate moment for Europe, which has leaned heavily on U.S. diesel since the war with Iran disrupted oil supplies in February. David Jorbenaze, a senior oil analyst at ICIS, said European Union imports rose by 1.5 million barrels a day in August. S&P Global Energy estimates that American diesel now meets a tenth of the continent's demand.
«Removing that source would pull away the leg Europe has been leaning on hardest,» Jorbenaze said.
The debate over diesel exports is unfolding against a broader political backdrop in Washington, where Democrats are preparing an expansive oversight agenda should they win control of the House in November. That effort, led by Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, would span multiple committees and could include investigations into the administration's energy and foreign policies, among other matters. Impeachment of the president or Cabinet officials has not been ruled out, though party leaders have signaled that oversight will focus first on what they describe as systemic corruption and abuses of power.
For now, the immediate question is whether the White House will proceed with export limits that have divided the administration's own allies. Supporters of the measure argue it could ease prices at the pump for American consumers. Opponents counter that it would weaken the United States' standing as a reliable energy supplier and hand a strategic advantage to competitors.
The European official's frustration reflects a wider anxiety among allies who have grown accustomed to depending on American fuel. With diplomatic channels described as ineffective and industry resistance mounting, the administration faces a choice that could reshape both its domestic energy policy and its relationships abroad.