Washington: The United States is pressing European countries to release emergency diesel reserves as President Donald Trump considers restricting US diesel exports amid soaring global fuel prices.
The Trump administration has told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel inventories to help increase supplies and ease pressure on prices, according to people familiar with the discussions. The request comes as Washington weighs a potential export ban designed to keep more diesel in the United States.
Trump has stated that the administration is considering an export restriction as diesel prices rise sharply. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged European partners to accelerate existing commitments and make additional fuel supplies available to address disruptions.
The pressure on Europe comes at a difficult time for the region, which is also dealing with tight fuel markets. Germany and France together hold more than one-third of the European Union’s strategic diesel reserves, according to Reuters. The United States has reportedly asked the EU to release as much as 120 million barrels of diesel over six months, although European authorities have not agreed to such a release.
EU countries are required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports or 61 days of domestic consumption, whichever is greater. The bloc currently meets those requirements, but governments are weighing how much fuel can be released without weakening their own protection against a prolonged supply crisis.
European officials have also called for coordination with Washington. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic stated that the bloc wanted a coordinated approach to lowering diesel and other energy prices, while warning that restrictions on US diesel exports could have damaging effects on Europe’s economy.
The United Kingdom has joined discussions with European partners over a possible coordinated response. UK officials have held talks with representatives from the European Commission, Germany, France, Italy and Ireland about whether emergency diesel stocks could be released if US exports are restricted.
The UK is particularly exposed to diesel supply disruptions because domestic refineries do not produce enough diesel to meet national demand. Around one-third of Britain’s diesel imports in 2025 came from the United States, according to recent reporting.
US diesel prices have also climbed sharply. The administration has argued that keeping additional supplies inside the United States could help reduce domestic prices for drivers, truckers, farmers and businesses.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has expressed confidence that European countries will release emergency diesel stocks. Wright stated that additional supplies could help ease pressure as the harvest season and winter heating period approach.
The wider supply squeeze has been intensified by disruptions linked to the war involving Iran, reduced Russian fuel exports and restrictions on refined fuel shipments from China. Oil prices also rose sharply on October 1 after reports of tighter fuel supplies and increased US military deployments in the Middle East.
European governments now face a difficult balance between releasing fuel to ease current prices and retaining sufficient reserves in case the global supply crisis worsens. EU energy officials are expected to continue discussions over whether additional strategic stocks should be released.
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