UK in Talks With EU Partners Over Fuel Reserves After Trump Diesel Threat

Britain is holding talks with European Union partners to release strategic fuel reserves, including diesel, after United States President Donald Trump threatened a ban on American diesel exports to lower domestic pump prices.

Average diesel prices in the UK have hit record highs, hovering just under 200p per litre according to motoring organisation the RAC. The UK relies on the US for approximately one third of its diesel supply, leaving the nation heavily dependent on imports despite its domestic refineries producing sufficient petrol.

Trump Threatens US Diesel Ban

President Donald Trump raised the prospect of halting outbound shipments to lower fuel costs for American drivers ahead of midterm elections, telling reporters at the weekend that administration officials were considering the move very seriously. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that European partners must act immediately to cover any impending shortfall.

“Our European partners should accelerate delivery on their existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available to address ongoing disruptions,”

Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that American farmers, truckers, and businesses should not carry the burden of a global diesel shortage. The US currently exports between 1.2 and 1.5 million barrels of diesel per day to the world.

UK in Talks With EU Partners Over Fuel Reserves After Trump Diesel Threat — Photo: independent.co.uk

Britain Coordinates Talks With Europe

Energy Minister Martin McCluskey engaged in discussions with European counterparts on Thursday regarding the potential US restrictions. A source familiar with the talks told the BBC that preparing a coordinated response alongside European nations was prudent, noting that some reserves remain from a previous coordinated release of strategic fuel stocks earlier in the year.

Chancellor John Healey confirmed that the government is treating the export threat seriously and noted that the nation holds its own reserves. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham stated he would seek a specific exemption for the UK from Washington.

“We have a diverse and resilient supply. We continue to engage with our international partners and the UK fuel industry,”

Government spokesperson

A European Commission spokesperson reported lots of calls, lots of meetings taking place across the continent, involving high-level contacts inside the US administration.

Strait Closure Squeezes Global Fuel Markets

Global energy markets have faced severe turbulence since the outbreak of the US-Israel war in Iran in February. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—which typically moves a fifth of the world’s oil and gas—alongside an export ban from Russia, has tightened global supplies and sent petroleum product prices climbing.

David Fyfe, chief economist at Argus Media, warned that cutting off American shipments would likely cause international prices to skyrocket. Refined diesel is harder to produce than gasoline, and because the haulage and agricultural sectors depend heavily on it, lowering consumption remains difficult.

Data from the Department for Transport shows there were 15.1 million diesel vehicles on UK roads at the end of June, representing a drop from 15.7 million recorded a year prior.

This overall figure includes 9.8 million diesel cars, which also decreased year on year from 10.4 million.

Metric	Figure	Source
UK Diesel Price	199.79p per litre (up from 142.38p)	RAC (via Yahoo)
UK Diesel Vehicles	15.1 million (down from 15.7 million)	Department for Transport
US Diesel Exports	1.2 to 1.5 million barrels per day	Argus Media (via Yahoo)

Data from the Department for Transport shows there were 15.1 million diesel vehicles on UK roads at the end of June, down from 15.7 million a year earlier.

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