Former President Donald Trump said he would support a ban on diesel exports as Republican lawmakers push for measures to rein in soaring fuel costs.
The remarks come as diesel prices in the United States have climbed to record levels, prompting pressure from members of Mr Trump's party for steps to increase domestic fuel availability. Republicans have argued that restricting exports could help ease upward pressure on US prices by keeping more supply at home.
Analysts say an export ban would have implications for refiners and trading patterns. US diesel is a globally traded commodity, and curbs on shipments could alter flows to international markets and affect refining margins and contracts, though the scale and timing of any impact would depend on how a ban was structured and implemented.
The proposal also carries political and legal questions. It is unclear what authority would be used to impose such a restriction or how quickly it could be put in place, and any move to curb exports is likely to provoke debate among lawmakers, industry groups and trading partners about the wider economic and diplomatic consequences.