EU rejects US threat to ban diesel exports over fuel stock demand
The European Commission says the EU fully rejects a US threat to ban diesel exports to Europe unless the bloc releases more of its fuel reserves, warning such a move would benefit no one.
European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen has stated that the European Union completely rejects a threat from the United States to halt diesel exports to Europe unless the EU increases the amount of fuel it releases from its own stocks.
Itkonen said a ban of this kind would not serve the interests of either side. She warned that such a step would damage Europe's confidence in the United States as a dependable energy partner.
Upcoming coordination meeting
The spokesperson noted that the EU's Oil Coordination Group has a regular meeting scheduled for October 15. She added, however, that the date could be moved earlier should circumstances require it.
The dispute over fuel reserves comes as European consumers are already dealing with higher diesel prices, driven partly by tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran. Rising fuel costs are affecting both drivers and the wider European economy, making the management of fuel stockpiles and the threat of export restrictions a sensitive issue for economic and energy security policy.
