New Jersey governor warns ports against accepting Russian diesel

Nov 3 (Reuters) – New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned local port officials and terminal operators against accepting Russian diesel, saying those shipments break federal law. 

• In a Nov. 2 letter, Sherill said Congress banned Russian energy imports under the “Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act” in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

• Importing Russian diesel violates that law and could expose businesses and individuals using New Jersey ports to “harsh” civil and criminal penalties, she added.

• The letter follows President Donald Trump’s decision to grant Russia a license to supply more than 300,000 metric tons, or about 2.25 million barrels, of diesel to U.S. and global markets amid tight global diesel inventories and near-record U.S. prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.

• Since the license was granted, Russia has dispatched multiple diesel tankers to the United States, including at least one that may be headed for the New Jersey coast, Sherill said.

• Sherill said the Russian Oil Act does not allow blanket sanctions waivers unless Russia withdraws its forces from Ukraine, which has not occurred.

• “New Jersey will not stand by while Donald Trump supports Vladimir Putin at the expense of Americans,” Sherill said on X.

• “Instead of lowering costs, these imports help finance Putin’s war against Ukraine and a campaign of violence and terror that endangers our U.S. service members abroad.”

• According to GasBuddy, diesel prices on Tuesday’s midterm election day reached a record high $6.28 per gallon, the highest ever for any election day.

(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )