Susanna Riva In the midst of the midterm election campaign, President Donald Trump held an emergency meeting with his advisors to consider drastic measures to contain rising fuel prices. Among the options being considered is a ban on U.S. diesel exports , a decision that could temporarily reduce domestic costs but jeopardize supplies abroad.
Options discussed include limiting international diesel sales and providing advance notice of potential disruptions to trading partners, including the United Kingdom. According to sources close to the White House, officials have already informed allies of a potential reduction in deliveries, creating a climate of uncertainty in global energy markets.
European Union reaction and fears of crisis
The European Union is viewing the news with apprehension. Currently, Europe imports approximately 50% of its diesel from the United States, a crucial portion of the continent's energy mix. The European Commission has opened direct diplomatic channels with Washington, requesting guarantees regarding the continuity of supplies.
In an environment already marked by sanctions against Russia, a sudden blockade could trigger a wave of inflation and increase the cost of transporting goods.
The words of Anna-Kaisa Itkonen
EU Commission Energy spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a press conference: "We are a major importer of US diesel," noting that in August 2026, the US share amounted to "about 50%" of European imports. The same source reported that the White House had considered, but later denied, a possible 90-day ban on overseas exports.
Economic and political points of view
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, in his Substack newsletter, described the situation as a "strong smell of desperation" emanating from the Republican Party, and it smells strongly of diesel fumes." Krugman noted that the GOP faces a "major defeat" in the midterm elections and that rising diesel prices are a key factor in this scenario. He also emphasized that an export ban would be a "broken promise," a de facto violation of multiple contracts, and a betrayal of the energy companies that have invested in refining capacity.
According to Krugman, the move would not solve the structural problems of inflation, but would "destabilize global markets." He recalled that, as a businessman, Trump was known for not paying suppliers, a "tariff policy" that, in his view, would disrupt decades of international agreements and even penalize American consumers, raising prices in "much of the United States itself."
Italy's response
On the Italian side, Ministers Adolfo Urso (Business and Made in Italy) and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin (Environment and Energy Security) have called a summit for October 8th with the main national refinery operators. The stated objective is "to assess how refineries can increase production of key products to mitigate the effects of the current international scenario on the country's supply." This initiative aims to limit the impact of potential US restrictions on pump prices and preserve the stability of the domestic market.
While Washington weighs the measure to gain domestic consensus, Brussels and Rome are preparing to face the repercussions of a decision that could reshape the entire European energy landscape.