A government minister has insisted the UK has a “diverse” diesel supply after Donald Trump threatened a ban on US exports to the EU.
The UK joined crisis talks with Brussels on Thursday morning to discuss the possible need to release their emergency stocks.
It came after President Trump had reportedly told Germany and France to draw down emergency diesel supplies to help to ease global fuel prices – sent surging due to his war with Iran – as he threatened to cut off American supply to Europe.
The US president is said to be frustrated with the two countries for not fully following through on earlier commitments to release emergency oil and petroleum stocks.
Transport minister Keir Mather said the UK was “working very closely” with US counterparts to “stress the importance of that relationship and the importance of sustaining flows of diesel around the world”.
But he insisted the UK has a “range of supply” of diesel available.
“I want to reassure people this morning that the United Kingdom has got a diverse range of supply when it comes to diesel,” he said.
“We are working very closely with our US counterparts to stress the importance of that relationship and the importance of sustaining flows of diesel around the world, but also working through international fora in the International Energy Agency and with partners in Europe, from whom we get a proportion of our diesel imports as well.”
President Trump is considering the potential ban to bring down US fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections, but it is not known whether the UK would be included.
US energy secretary Chris Wright told reporters on Wednesday that the US administration expected announcements soon from Europe about new diesel supplies.
A US official told new agency Reuters: “It is in Europe’s best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers.”
British officials are in talks with the US over the possible ban on exports, and Andy Burnham has said he would seek an exemption for the UK if it came to that.
Diesel prices reached an all-time high in the UK this week, as thousands of forecourts charged more than £2 a litre.
Prices have risen steadily in recent weeks and, on Monday, overtook the previous all-time peak of 199.09p set in June 2022.
Chancellor John Healey said he was taking the threat “very seriously”, telling BBC: “We’re also making the provision that we may need to and we have our own stocks in the UK.”
“We work very closely with the Americans,” the chancellor said. “In the end, we’re also working with the Americans where we can try and put in place what will solve this, or at least significantly ease it, which would be a diplomatic settlement [and] an end to the fighting with Iran.”
