WASHINGTON — The Trump administration warned Germany and France that it could restrict US diesel exports if they do not release diesel from their emergency reserves. The Trump administration requested the European Union release diesel from its reserves over a six-month period.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright presented the reserve release plan as an alternative to an outright ban on US diesel exports. "We’ve lost some diesel exports from the Middle East, although we’re restoring those, and we’ve lost diesel exports from China. So that’s a lot of interruptions," Wright said during a press briefing.

A Trump administration official stated in a public statement that cooperation is essential for market stability. "It is in Europe’s best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers," the official said. The administration believes Germany and France have fallen short of previous pledges to draw down emergency oil and petroleum reserves.

Officials from the European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and Britain held a call on Thursday to discuss a possible release of diesel stocks. Martin McCluskey, the UK minister for local energy, participated in the Thursday call with EU countries regarding diesel reserves. A senior European official described the US request as conditional rather than finalized. "It was very hypothetical: ‘What do you think about Europe releasing some of the reserves in order to decrease prices, put pressure on supplies?' It could also help our government not to continue the discussion on the export ban,'" the official said.

A French official stated that the diesel issue was not discussed when President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron met in New York during the UN General Assembly last week. Macron plans to convene G7 leaders via video conference to address high fuel prices and refined product supplies. The G7 talks will include coordination of reserve releases with the International Energy Agency.

Europe has increased its reliance on US fuel following bans on Russian imports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and disruptions to Middle East supplies caused by the US-Israeli war against Iran. Approximately one-third of UK diesel imports in the previous year came from the US. The average price of a litre of diesel in the UK reached 199.72p on Wednesday, according to the RAC. Brent crude oil traded at approximately $72 per barrel in February before rising above $101 per barrel on Thursday.

UK Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has been in contact with Energy Secretary Chris Wright to raise concerns regarding the potential export ban. In 2024, the UK government issued a directive requiring all major fuel suppliers to maintain at least 30 days of diesel stock, in preparation for potential supply shocks from the Middle East.

President Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pause strikes on Russian oil refineries due to concerns that such attacks could further increase prices. Russia extended its ban on diesel exports until the end of October following Ukrainian attacks on refining companies. Europe produces approximately 70% of the diesel it consumes from domestic refineries. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland hold the largest diesel reserves in the European Union.

Timeline

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average price of diesel in the United States reached a record high on September 22, 2026. The European Commission confirmed that all EU member states must approve any reserve releases through the International Energy Agency (IEA), per a statement from Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen on October 1, 2026. Government spokesperson said: "We have a diverse and resilient supply. We continue to engage with our international partners and the UK fuel industry."

What's New

The European Union's strategic diesel reserves totaled 315 million barrels as of June 2026, according to Eurostat, with Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland holding the largest shares. The official record states that the Trump administration has asked Europe to release diesel from its national strategic reserves over 180 days, according to a government official from a European country who spoke. Germany had not released 15 million barrels of its pledged 17.5 million-barrel contribution to the IEA’s March 2026 oil stockpile release, as of September 2026, according to the German economy ministry.

As of June 2026, Germany held approximately 105 million barrels of diesel in its strategic reserves, representing about one-third of the EU's total diesel reserves. In 2023, the European Union adopted a binding energy security strategy that included the requirement for member states to maintain strategic reserves of at least 90 days of net imports for petroleum products, including diesel.

In 2025, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on several European companies for failing to comply with U.S. energy export regulations, signaling a shift toward more assertive energy policy enforcement. In 2022, the United States and the European Union agreed on a joint energy security initiative that included the coordination of strategic oil and fuel reserves in response to supply disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Why It Matters

The volume of diesel requested by the Trump administration represents one-third of the European Union's total reserves. The European Union holds a total of 315 million barrels in diesel reserves. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that global diesel inventories fell between January and August 2026 due to supply chain disruptions and increased demand, exacerbating price volatility.

The International Energy Agency is due to meet on October 2, and the European Commission will 'take action as necessary' during this meeting, according to a European Commission spokesperson.