UK in Talks With US Over Possible Diesel Export Ban
Chancellor John Healey said the UK is in talks with US officials over a possible halt to diesel exports. BBC News
What was said
Speaking on the sidelines of Labour's annual conference in Liverpool on 28 September, Healey said the Government is preparing for a possible American ban. He said the UK holds its own diesel stocks.
His comments followed remarks by Donald Trump at the weekend. The US president said Washington is thinking about a diesel export ban "very seriously".
Why it matters
Britain buys around a third of its diesel imports from the US. US sources suggest Mr Trump is considering a ban to lower prices for American drivers before the midterm elections, the votes that elect Congress halfway through a president's term.
The idea has been public for several days. On 22 September, Mr Trump said he backed banning diesel exports. Reuters On 24 September, reporting suggested a 90-day ban was under consideration before the midterms. The Guardian By 26 September, White House talks on limiting exports were reported, as US fuel prices rose sharply after oil supply disruption in late September. Politico
Prices and the Budget
Reaction has been guarded. US energy officials said a ban could raise fuel prices on the American coasts. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said a possible ban would be a significant concern for the UK. Politico Europe The EU said Mr Trump's plan would harm both sides.
At home, the RAC said average UK diesel now costs 199.18p a litre. The last record was 191.5p in June 2022, after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Petrol now averages 174.13p a litre.
Healey also spoke about the Budget on 28 October. He called it a "breathing space" Budget. The fuel duty freeze, first brought in by the Conservative government in 2022, ends this year. Duty, the tax paid on fuel, is due to rise by 3p in January and by 2p more in March. Fuel duty is decided in Westminster and applies across the UK.
What happens next
The broader context here is familiar to Westminster watchers. A risk to a third of imports reaches a Chancellor trying to keep choices open before a Budget. Talks are under way. Preparations are being made. Stocks are held. None of that removes pressure at the pumps, and none decides what Washington will do.
Looking to the next month, two tracks run side by side. One is practical and diplomatic, about finding other supplies if US volumes stop. The other is about tax, about whether planned duty rises can go ahead with diesel above its 2022 peak. Healey's phrase leaves room to move. Events in Washington will test whether he keeps it.
