UK tries to stop Trump's diesel export ban

The UK is in talks with US authorities over a potential stoppage of diesel exports and has started preparing for a ban, Chancellor John Healey told BBC News.

Diesel prices in the UK reached a new high on Monday due to supply pressures springing from the US-Israel conflict with Iran and Russia's war with Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to ban diesel exports, stating at the weekend: "We're thinking about it very seriously. "

Healey said the government was in discussions with the US, adding: "We're also making the provision that we may need to and we have our own stocks in the UK. "

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Healey said: "We work very closely with the Americans.

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. "

The UK depends on the US for around a third of its diesel imports and a ban would send prices even higher.

US sources suggest that Trump is considering a ban to attempt to bring down prices for domestic consumers ahead of the critical midterm elections.

The White House said no official policy announcements have been made, adding that Trump wants to see prices at the pump fall and "is evaluating all the options on the table. "

Healey said he was "very aware" of these cost of living pressures as he prepared what he called a "breathing space" Budget on 28 October.

A freeze on fuel duty, first implemented by the Conservative government in 2022, is due to expire at the end of the year. Duty is scheduled to increase by 3p in January and a further