US tells France and Germany to release diesel reserves or face export ban

US President Donald Trump's administration has reportedly threatened to restrict diesel exports to parts of Europe unless countries including France and Germany release fuel from emergency reserves.

Washington has asked the European Union to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months as global fuel prices remain high, a European source told Reuters.

“It is in Europe’s best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers,” a US official told Reuters.

The European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Britain held talks on Thursday about potentially releasing diesel stocks, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump said last week that his administration was considering temporarily banning US diesel exports as it seeks to lower domestic fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said supply disruptions were contributing to the global shortage.

“We’ve ​lost some diesel ​exports from the ⁠Middle East, although we’re restoring those, and we’ve lost diesel exports from China. So that’s a lot ​of interruptions,” Wright told reporters, according to Reuters.