Trump wants to keep US diesel at home – his own minister warns

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Trump wants to keep US diesel at home – his own minister warns.

Anyone fueling up with diesel in the US is paying record prices right now. At the same time, massive amounts of US diesel are leaving the country headed for foreign shores – a contradiction Donald Trump clearly no longer wants to accept. The president is considering capping exports. His own minister is warning against such a move.

It sounds logical at first: what's needed at home should stay at home. But the concern from within the cabinet is concrete: if less US diesel reaches the world market, the move could backfire.

The exact shape of the measure and what would ultimately come of it remains open. What's clear is that Trump is taking the risk of overruling the expertise of his own people.

What's behind the warnings

The basic idea behind Trump's consideration is simple: fewer exports should keep more diesel at home and thereby push prices down. But that's precisely what might not work – at least if you follow the warnings coming from within his own cabinet.

If the US is absent from world markets as a major exporter, supply chains get thrown into disarray. At the same time, US refineries lose an important sales market. Both effects can ultimately hit exactly those prices Trump wants to lower.

What's at stake now

Trump has so far only mulled the move – he hasn't ordered it. The burning question is whether the president will ultimately override the concerns coming from his own cabinet. If an export halt actually comes to pass, there will be consequences – for the US, for international markets, and indirectly for consumers worldwide.

It remains to be seen how the discussion in Washington develops over the coming days.