36 US groups ask Trump not to ban diesel exports

Thirty-six US business groups asked Donald Trump on Wednesday, September 23, to reject a ban on diesel exports, warning that the measure would cut production and make supply more expensive. Mexico is the largest destination for that fuel and imports nearly 40% of what it consumes from its northern neighbor, according to Bloomberg Línea.

The statement came one day after Trump backed the proposal by some lawmakers to ban exports to contain prices, and after a White House spokesperson called Politico's report that anticipated the plan incorrect, according to Forbes México. That report, published on Wednesday, September 23, described a three-month prohibition ahead of the November 3 legislative elections, in which the House of Representatives and one third of the Senate are up for election. Energy Secretary Chris Wright rejected the idea the same day in New York: "The drastic measure of banning diesel exports definitely does not work," he said, and predicted higher prices for gasoline and jet fuel. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in turn that officials are analyzing whether a total or partial ban moves forward.

The letter, signed by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers association, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the American Petroleum Institute, states that 10% of global refining capacity is offline and that US refineries are operating at maximum capacity. "We urge you to reject calls to ban or in any way limit exports of diesel and other products," the document says. Diesel averaged $6.52 per gallon on Wednesday, 16% more than in August and 76% more than a year earlier, according to Forbes México. Mexico, Chile, Brazil, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are the leading destinations for those exports, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) cited by Bloomberg Línea.

The decision rests with the White House, which is evaluating whether the restriction moves forward before the November 3 elections. For the Mexican market, the signal to watch is the price of imported diesel and the volume arriving from the Gulf of Mexico.

This note was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.