Energy Secretary Chris Wright dismissed the prospect of a flat export ban on Wednesday, arguing that such measures would likely backfire by increasing the costs of gasoline and jet fuel. Instead, officials are focusing on strategies to divert more diesel into the domestic market without disrupting the supply chain for other refined products. This pivot arrives after mounting political pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Senator Chuck Grassley, who have demanded an embargo to provide relief to American farmers and truckers.

Industry experts and the American Petroleum Institute (API) remain staunchly opposed to any export restrictions. API CEO Mike Sommers warned that limiting access to global markets would ultimately exacerbate refining challenges and harm domestic consumers. Analysts point out that the U.S. currently produces more diesel than it consumes, serving as a vital supply backstop for regions like Europe and Latin America. According to GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan, attempting to isolate a globally traded commodity through executive order ignores the reality of international pricing. He cautioned that such intervention would not only fail to lower costs but could discourage the long-term investment required to expand U.S. refinery capacity.