New Jersey’s governor warns ports against accepting Russian diesel

November 3, 2026 / 12:55 PM EST / CBS News

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is warning local port officials and terminal operators against accepting imported Russian diesel, saying that the shipments would break federal law.

In a Nov. 2 letter, Sherrill said that Congress in April 2022 banned energy imports from Russia in response to the country's attack on Ukraine two months earlier. Importing Russian diesel would violate the ban and could lead to civil and criminal charges, she said, pledging to use legal and regulatory measures to ensure that New Jersey's ports and facilities are not used to receive Russian diesel.

In a Truth Social post in October, President Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release millions of tons of diesel over the following three months for use in both the U.S. and global markets. The Treasury Department also announced on Oct. 9 that it would temporarily waive sanctions on Russia's energy sector to "allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market."

Sherrill, a Democrat, said in the letter that Mr. Trump and Treasury officials do not have blanket authority to waive congressional sanctions on Russia.

"New Jersey will not stand by while…

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