(WASHINGTON) – A plan to import Russian diesel into the United States is illegal, ineffective and will not lower fuel prices, according to analysts.
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of diesel. It exports between 1.2 and 1.6 million barrels per day, mostly to South America, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
The proposed import of 300,000 metric tons, or 2.2 million barrels, represents just two days worth of American consumption. This might be one or two supertankers coming from Russia to deliver the diesel.
The United States does import a small amount of diesel from Canada. This is because it is cheaper for Canada to pipe it rather than send it to a coast to put it on a tanker. However, the Trump administration has chosen to buy from Russia instead.
It would be cheaper for everyone if Russia sent the diesel directly to South America, and the United States kept the diesel it domestically produces.
Russia is also importing diesel from places such as India, China, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Diesel produced in India is being exported to Russia, then to the United States, and then to South America. This is one reason why diesel is so expensive.
This is not a significant amount of diesel. The United States is selling out its allies and its values for about 14 hours worth of diesel consumption. The United States is a very large economy and market, using a lot of diesel for trucking and farming. This amount would not bring down the price, even if it made sense to import it from Russia.
On top of this, the plan is illegal. Congress passed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act in 2022. It passed in the Senate by 100 votes to zero. Every single Republican senator voted for it. In the House, it passed by 413 votes to 9 to prohibit the importation of energy products of the Russian Federation.
The president cannot break the law. If the United States is a nation of laws, an executive order or a Treasury Department memo cannot simply ignore the law and start importing energy products from Russia.
There is speculation that if this actually happens, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be arrested and jailed for breaking the law when Trump leaves office.
The plan has also highlighted Republican hypocrisy. In March 2022, House Republicans tweeted: “Why are we still buying Russian oil?” House Judiciary GOP tweeted: “Stop buying Russian oil, Joe Biden.” Marco Rubio tweeted: “Stop importing Russian oil. Start producing more oil again.”
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