Diesel prices just hit a new record. Would a U.S. export ban bring relief?

September 22, 2026 / 2:19 PM EDT / CBS News

Some Republican lawmakers are calling for a ban on U.S. diesel exports as a way to lower record-high prices. But energy experts warn the move could backfire and drive diesel prices even higher by worsening the global supply crunch.

Average diesel costs hit a record $6.53 a gallon on Tuesday, up 77% from a year ago, according to AAA data. Diesel is vital across the nation's agriculture, trucking and construction sectors, with the price surge especially painful for farmers and small businesses.

Many of the calls for a diesel export ban are coming from lawmakers in states with agriculture-rich economies. Iowa Republicans Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Ashley Hinson are among those calling for American energy companies to be barred from selling diesel outside of the U.S., arguing that could help lower prices for Americans.

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican, introduced two related bills on Sept. 17, one that would ban diesel exports through January 2027 and another that would trigger an export ban any time diesel hit a national average of $5 or more per gallon.

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Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/