United States of America

White House Weighs 90-Day Diesel Export Halt

Would a diesel export ban protect struggling American families or would it backfire by choking refineries and raising prices?

Published 8 hours ago

White House Weighs 90-Day Diesel Export Halt

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Above: The Marathon Petroleum Corp. Los Angeles Refinery in Carson, California on Sept. 22. Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

Cutting off diesel exports would choke the very refineries that make the fuel, and shutting diesel runs means shutting gasoline runs too, so drivers get hit twice. Trapped supply on the Gulf Coast can't reach the coasts without pipelines that don't exist. Slapping restrictions on exports also scares off the investment needed to expand refining capacity for good.

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Pro-Trump narrative

American fuel belongs to Americans first, and a temporary halt on diesel exports is a reasonable tool when families, truckers and farmers are getting crushed at the pump. Past presidents used embargoes to protect consumers, and refiners posting quadrupled earnings while prices hit records make the case even stronger. If separating export grades is too hard, selling cheaper at home works too.

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