Trump says he’s ‘very seriously’ looking at diesel export ban
US President Donald Trump said on Sept 27 that he is still looking "very seriously" at a ban on US diesel exports to combat high prices, speaking to a Fox News reporter near Chicago. Several farm-state lawmakers have urged limiting US diesel exports during the peak of the fall harvest season, while oil chief executives and industry groups have pushed instead for suspending the federal diesel excise tax. US diesel exports surged to a weekly record near 2 million barrels a day in August, and retail prices averaged about US$6.50 a gallon after hitting a record the previous week.
Why it matters: The debate over restricting diesel exports places energy security and trade policy among the administration's options ahead of November's midterm elections.