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A reported U.S. plan to halt diesel exports for 90 days has alarmed Brussels and could eventually be felt far beyond the negotiating rooms, including at petrol stations and supermarket checkouts in Cyprus.
Politico reported Thursday that the Trump administration is considering the temporary ban as it tries to control rising fuel prices at home.
The problem for Europe is that the United States now supplies more than half of the diesel it imports. Removing that fuel from the global market, even temporarily, could tighten supplies and push prices higher.
European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said the EU was concerned about the proposal and warned that disrupting the trade could harm both the European and American economies.
Senior EU and U.S. officials are already holding talks, with Brussels attempting to persuade Washington to abandon the idea before any decision is taken.
The proposal also faces opposition in the United States. Oil companies have warned that an export ban could squeeze global supplies, while U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is also reportedly against it.
Europe has become increasingly dependent on American diesel after losing supplies because of the Middle East conflict and attacks on Russian refineries. Diesel prices have already reached record levels, with European futures more than doubling since the beginning of 2026.
Why it matters to Cyprus
Diesel does much more than power private cars. It keeps delivery vans, lorries, buses, agricultural machinery, and construction equipment moving.
If wholesale prices rise, the cost can spread through the economy. Businesses pay more to transport products, farmers spend more operating machinery, and shops may eventually pass higher delivery costs to customers.
That means a decision made in Washington could show up in Cyprus as a more expensive tank of fuel or a slightly higher supermarket bill.
The U.S. has not yet announced a final decision, and the proposal could still be dropped. But with global diesel supplies already tight, Europe is not waiting to find out the hard way.
