Bipartisan senators urge Trump to reverse Russian diesel deal

Twelve U.S. senators, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, urged President Donald Trump on October 13 to rescind his arrangement allowing Russian diesel into global markets and use sanctions authorities against Moscow. In a letter, the lawmakers argued that the arrangement would generate revenue for the Kremlin without meaningfully lowering U.S. fuel prices. They called on Trump to withdraw the deal, reverse the Treasury Department’s temporary license for Russian diesel and apply powers under a recently enacted Russia sanctions law. The signatories included Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Richard Blumenthal. The letter said the senators recognized the need to reduce energy costs for American families, but contended that Russian diesel sales would have a negligible effect on prices while supporting Russia’s war effort. Those assessments were the lawmakers’ arguments; the reports provided no measured outcome for consumer prices or Russian revenue. The arrangement followed Trump’s October 9 announcement. He said more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel would be supplied to U.S. and global markets.