New Jersey Governor Orders Ports to Reject Russian Diesel

New Jersey diesel prices reached $6.29 per gallon on Tuesday, a figure that has intensified a legal dispute over imported fuel. The cost remains far above the $3.68 national average recorded a year ago. This price gap has drawn state officials into a conflict with the federal government over sanctions enforcement.

Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a formal directive to state port officials on November 2. The order instructs terminal operators to reject shipments of Russian diesel. Sherrill stated that accepting these shipments would violate federal law. The ban on Russian energy imports was established by Congress in April 2022 following the start of the war in Ukraine.

The governor's letter warns that facilities accepting the fuel could face civil and criminal charges. Sherrill pledged to use legal and regulatory tools to keep New Jersey infrastructure from receiving the diesel. She argued that the executive branch lacks the blanket authority to waive the sanctions set by the legislature.

This state-level action contradicts recent federal moves. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social in October that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release diesel for U.S. and global markets. The Treasury Department followed on October 9 by announcing a temporary general license to facilitate this supply.

Sherrill criticized the administration's approach in a public statement. She claimed the move supports Putin at the expense of Americans. The governor noted that lowering costs for domestic consumers effectively helps finance the war in Ukraine. She described this as a global campaign of violence that puts U.S. service members at risk.

Citing her background as a Navy veteran, Sherrill said she could not allow the situation to stand unchallenged. She asserted that New Jersey ports should not be complicit in what she described as unlawful trade. The governor stated that Russia has already dispatched multiple oil tankers carrying diesel to the United States. At least one of these vessels is potentially heading toward New Jersey waters.

The Trump administration has defended its decision. An official told CBS News that the general license complies with all applicable U.S. laws. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stated that the deal was secured to lower diesel prices for the United States and the world. She identified lowering prices for farmers, truckers, and families as a top priority for the President.

Rogers added that the President is urging both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to cease strikes on refineries. She noted that the administration views the temporary license as a strategic move to stabilize energy costs. Rogers said the President has worked to end the conflict, a war she noted never would have started if he were in office.

The debate occurs against a backdrop of soaring fuel costs. U.S. diesel prices have risen due to the ongoing war in Iran and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. The national average price for a gallon of diesel reached $6.29 as of Tuesday. This figure is down from a record high of $6.53 in September.

The current price remains sharply higher than the average of $3.68 per gallon recorded a year ago. This disparity has fueled the political disagreement over the importation of Russian diesel. State and federal officials continue to weigh the economic benefits of the trade against the legal mandates of the sanctions.