EU rejects potential US diesel export ban, warns it could undermine trust

The European Commission on Friday rejected any potential US ban on diesel exports, saying such a measure would benefit no one and could undercut the European Union's trust in the US as a "reliable partner."

"We fully reject any ban on diesel. A ban would not be beneficial to anyone. It would undermine our trust in the United States as a reliable partner," European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told reporters in Brussels.

Itkonen said the EU is ready to act collectively through the International Energy Agency (IEA), which she said was responsible for organizing any possible release of oil stocks.

She stressed that the bloc's role is to coordinate member states' positions within the IEA, rather than independently decide on a stock release.

Her comments came after US President Donald Trump said he may ask European countries to release some of their diesel reserves as his administration considers restricting US diesel exports amid pressure on global refined-fuel supplies.

Itkonen said member states had coordinated their positions at an Energy Union Task Force meeting on Friday and that discussions are continuing with international partners.

She said the EU would remain united in whatever further steps are taken, while declining to specify whether the bloc is considering "retaliatory" measures against Washington.

"We take one step at the time," Itkonen said.

She added the EU currently sees no immediate security-of-supply problem, with oil supplies stable for the time being, but warned that high energy prices are creating an affordability crisis for households and industry.

Paula Pinho, another spokesperson, said France, which holds the G7 presidency this year, intends to convene a video conference of G7 leaders "as soon as possible" to coordinate measures aimed at easing energy price pressures and guaranteeing supplies of crude oil and refined products.

She said EU coordination groups had been closely monitoring energy markets for months and that gas prices in Europe had risen by 140% since the end of February, when the US and Iran launched their war on Iran, while diesel prices had doubled.