Grassley urges Trump to place embargo on diesel exports amid high prices

Grassley Calls for Diesel Export Restrictions as Fuel Costs Strain Farmers

Provpnadvice.com – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is urging President Trump to consider halting diesel exports as fuel prices climb sharply and place additional pressure on farmers, truckers and other diesel-dependent businesses.

The Republican senator raised the proposal in posts on X over the weekend, comparing the current situation to export restrictions used by presidents during the 1970s when agricultural prices were rising. Grassley argued that limiting overseas diesel shipments could leave more fuel available for domestic users.

“[W]hy doesn’t Pres Trump put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on ag[riculture] products [because] food prices were inflated.”

Grassley followed that message with a blunt assessment of the effect on agriculture.

“High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME.”

Diesel Prices Remain Far Above Last Year’s Levels

AAA listed the national average price of diesel at roughly $6.51 per gallon on Sunday evening. At the same point a year earlier, the average was about $3.70 a gallon. In Iowa, the state Grassley represents, diesel was averaging approximately $6.29 per gallon.

The pace of the increase has added to concern. Over the preceding week, the U.S. diesel average rose by more than 40 cents per gallon. For farmers, that can affect the cost of moving equipment, operating machinery and transporting crops. Trucking companies also depend heavily on diesel, meaning higher fuel expenses can flow through supply chains and influence the cost of moving goods.

Fuel costs are especially significant in rural states such as Iowa, where agricultural production and long-distance freight transport are central parts of the economy. A rise at the pump does not remain confined to a single purchase: it can add to the expenses faced during planting, harvesting, hauling and deliveries.

Energy Costs Become a Political Issue Before Midterms

Elevated diesel prices have become a political concern for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. Rising energy bills can worsen the broader public view of economic conditions, particularly when households and businesses are already dealing with higher costs in multiple areas.

Trump has pointed to damage suffered by energy facilities during the Russia-Ukraine war as a reason for the pressure on fuel markets. But the conflict involving Iran has also contributed to the volatility. That war is nearing its seventh month, while closures affecting the Strait of Hormuz have pushed oil costs higher.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, carrying about one-fifth of global oil supplies. When movement through the waterway is disrupted, markets can react quickly because uncertainty over supply may lift crude oil prices. Those increases can eventually affect refined products, including diesel.

Grassley returned to his proposal in a second X post Sunday afternoon, arguing that the federal government has demonstrated it can use export controls in other sectors.

“If our govt can embargo chips to China it can embargo diesel to help American farmers & truckers. We need our family farmers who feed&fuel the world 2b on the strongest footing possible no matter what’s happening across the globe.”

What an Embargo Debate Would Mean

Grassley’s suggestion places attention on a difficult policy question: whether keeping more diesel within the United States would provide enough domestic relief to outweigh the effects of limiting exports. Diesel is both a key fuel for the domestic economy and a product traded internationally, so restrictions could have consequences beyond U.S. fuel stations.

For the senator, the immediate priority is reducing the burden on American producers and transport operators. His argument centers on protecting family farmers and truckers from price shocks linked to international conflicts and disrupted energy routes.

Whether the administration pursues such an embargo remains uncertain. The proposal nevertheless underscores how rapidly rising diesel prices can turn global energy disruptions into a direct issue for farms, freight carriers and consumers across the country.