New Jersey Governor Rebecca Michelle Sherrill has threatened to block Russian diesel tankers from unloading at the state’s ports, saying the US President Donald Trump’s arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin is illegal.
Sherrill issued the warning on Thursday, saying she was examining options to prevent Russian diesel tankers from entering New Jersey ports.
The warning came as three tankers carrying approximately 140,000 tonnes of Russian diesel approached the US Atlantic coast, with their cargoes being the first shipments authorized under the agreement.
A broader tracking operation identified seven tankers carrying an estimated 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel toward the US, although the precise destinations of the vessels have not been established.
Trump and Putin announced the agreement on October 9, with Moscow agreeing to supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by further shipments in November and subsequent months.
The vessels departed Russia after Trump announced that he would temporarily waive sanctions restrictions to allow Russian diesel sales to the US amid soaring fuel prices due to his war on Iran.
Sherrill’s authority to prevent the tankers from entering New Jersey ports remains unclear, but her warning adds pressure on companies being approached by the administration to handle the shipments.
The dispute has drawn opposition from both Democratic lawmakers and Republican Senator, Thomas Roland Tillis, who have warned American companies against facilitating the imports.
The lawmakers cautioned banks, port authorities, energy companies and shipping firms that involvement in the transactions could expose them to congressional investigations and potential legal consequences.
Their objections center on the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which prohibits Russian energy imports.
They argue the prohibition cannot be overridden through the administration’s temporary sanctions waiver.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal also urged shipping companies transporting the fuel to turn their vessels around, saying that Trump’s agreement with Putin does not “supersede clear, unambiguous law.”
The legal uncertainty has discouraged potential buyers, despite substantial discounts reportedly being offered to persuade American companies to accept the cargoes.
Rapidan Energy Group warned that the shipments were encountering resistance because of “reputational and legal risks,” adding that the cargoes could ultimately be diverted to Brazil.
Trump has presented the arrangement as a way to ease American fuel costs, but diesel prices have continued to rise since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israeli aggression.
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