Trump Considers Diesel Export Ban Amid Supply Shock

President Donald Trump and U.S. lawmakers are considering a temporary ban on diesel exports to address a domestic supply shock. The move follows a 30% increase in U.S. distillate exports since early 2026, which has contributed to rising on-road diesel prices.

Industry advocates, including Paul Winters of the Clean Fuels Alliance America, are urging the government to maintain renewable fuel standards to stabilize the energy supply. Winters argues that increasing small refinery exemptions undercuts rural investment and further drives up pump prices.

Recent actions by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy have already exempted 13.4 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from renewable fuel programs. The Clean Fuels Alliance America is calling for the restoration of these exempted volumes and the expansion of renewable diesel and biodiesel capacity to mitigate the current crisis.