The warning marks an escalation in pressure on Europe as US President Donald Trump considers a potential ban to help bring down US fuel prices ahead of November's midterm elections.

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Europe's relationship with Washington has soured under ​Trump due to tariffs disputes and disagreements over military spending.

For the EU releasing more stocks would represent a dilemma as ​it needs to balance the need to bring down fuel prices at home with maintaining high stocks for ⁠a possible worsening of the fuel crisis should Trump and Iran not reach a peace deal.
The European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Ireland ​held a call on Thursday to discuss the possible need to release diesel stocks, two EU officials told Reuters.

The International Energy Agency, the West's energy watchdog, ​has not yet asked Germany to release stocks, Germany's economy ministry said. It was not clear when the IEA might meet next.


The US administration has been particularly frustrated with France and Germany, which US officials believe have not fully followed through on earlier commitments to release emergency oil and petroleum product stocks, Reuters has reported previously.

"It is ​in Europe’s best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and ​lower costs for consumers," one of the sources, a US official, told Reuters.

A second source, based in a European capital, said that the US has asked ‌the ⁠EU to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months.