Administration Continues To Weigh Idea Of Limiting Diesel Exports

Record diesel prices and political worries were playing a key role in White House planning to limit exports of the key fuel for agriculture.  An outcry by farmers and truckers, worries about the midterms and oil industry pushback, all factors in White House calculations on limiting diesel exports as prices reached record levels.

President Donald Trump sided with those in favor of holding back diesel for domestic use.

“I’ve called for that, too," Trump said.  "I’ve said, let’s not send out the diesel…we make a lot of diesel."

But fuel producers who’d lose overseas markets warned any export ban would squeeze domestic refining and force regular gas and jet fuel prices higher. An issue the President said he understands.

“It could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline," Trump added.  "Because, when you do that, it’s sort of a flow, it’s sort of a balance.”

But with elections less than two months away, farm state Republican senators urged immediate action

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