The Trump administration has threatened to cut off US diesel supplies to Europe, warning France and Germany specifically that they must release emergency stockpiles to ease soaring global energy prices or face an American export ban.

The ultimatum follows growing frustration in Washington with Paris and Berlin for failing to follow through on commitments to release oil and petrol reserves. As Donald Trump considers wider export restrictions to lower domestic costs ahead of November's US midterm elections, the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, warned on social media that European partners must "accelerate delivery on their existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available."

Speaking on a campaign visit to Texas, Trump confirmed he may demand European allies step in, adding: "We may do that. They have some diesel."

In response to the escalating pressure, Martin McCluskey, the UK minister for local energy, took part in an urgent call on Thursday alongside representatives from the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland to discuss drawing down reserves.

Here is why this matters directly if you are filling up in the UK: we do not refine enough diesel to cover our domestic needs. Last year, roughly a third of all British diesel imports came from the United States, meaning any export restrictions could quickly squeeze supply and drive forecourt prices even higher.

Drivers are already feeling severe strain. According to the RAC, the average price of a litre of diesel in the UK reached a record high of 199.72p on Wednesday. Chancellor John Healey acknowledged this week that forecourt prices have hit "extreme" levels, confirming the government is in active discussions with Washington to avert an export ban.

UK Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has also raised British concerns with her US counterpart, Chris Wright. Wright told Fox News he is "highly confident" Europe can help lower prices by tapping its stockpiles, arguing that ahead of the harvest and winter heating seasons, "now’s the time to bring more diesel to the market, and that diesel is available."

The wider supply shock has been driven by the US war in Iran, which disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and pushed international benchmark Brent crude from around $72 a barrel in February to more than $101 on Thursday.

While European fuel stations are not expected to run completely dry — Europe produces around 70% of its diesel domestically and holds strategic reserves — energy experts warn that having to compete for alternative global cargoes would push wholesale market prices even higher. Governments also face a difficult balance between lowering immediate pump costs and preserving fuel stocks for the coming winter.

Elizabeth de Jong, chief executive of Fuels Industry UK, warned that the dispute highlights the vulnerability of our supply chains, noting that Britain "cannot solely rely on overseas production" to sustain transport, agriculture and defence.

What remains unclear is whether the UK would be directly caught in any formal US export ban. European Commission spokesperson Anna Kaisa Itkonen confirmed that EU member states and the International Energy Agency are holding further coordinated talks to assess potential measures.

I'll be tracking these international negotiations and the government's representations to Washington closely — check back for further updates.