New Jersey's governor warns ports against accepting Russian diesel

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has issued a stern warning to local port officials and terminal operators, urging them not to accept imported Russian diesel. In a letter dated November 2, Sherrill stated that Congress banned energy imports from Russia in April 2022 following the country's invasion of Ukraine. She emphasized that violating this ban could result in civil and criminal charges, and pledged to take legal and regulatory actions to prevent New Jersey's ports and facilities from being used for receiving Russian diesel.

President Trump, in a post on Truth Social in October, claimed that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release millions of tons of diesel for use in the U.S. and global markets. The Treasury Department subsequently issued a temporary general license to facilitate the supply of Russian diesel to the global market. However, Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out that neither Trump nor Treasury officials hold blanket authority to waive congressional sanctions on Russia.

She criticized Trump for allegedly supporting Putin at the expense of American citizens and vowed that New Jersey would not stand idly by while Trump allegedly aids Putin's war efforts. In a statement, Sherrill called for an end to the illegal trade in Russian fuel, warning that any attempt to profit from it would face severe penalties.

She urged port and terminal operators in the state not to allow tankers carrying Russian diesel to utilize their facilities. A Trump administration official defended the issuance of the general license, stating that it complies with all U.S. laws and aims to lower diesel prices for American farmers, truckers, and families. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of diesel stands at $6.29, down from a record high of $6.53 in September but still significantly higher than a year ago, when the average was $3.68.