New Jersey Governor Warns Ports Against Accepting Russian Diesel Shipments
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has warned port and terminal operators in her state not to accept any Russian diesel shipments, saying in a letter sent Monday that doing so would violate federal law and could expose companies to civil and criminal charges.[1]
Sherrill told operators that an April 2022 congressional ban on Russian energy imports remains in force, and argued that a recent Treasury Department move allowing Russian diesel back onto global markets does not give New Jersey ports legal cover to unload those cargoes.[1] She said Russia has already dispatched several diesel tankers toward the United States, including at least one believed to be headed for New Jersey, and urged companies to refuse docking or offloading.[1]
The warning comes after the Treasury Department on October 9 issued a temporary waiver of Russia energy sanctions, a step meant to ease a global diesel shortage but which Sherrill says exceeds the Biden administration's authority because Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022.[1] Fuel costs have become a political flashpoint as diesel prices have climbed sharply; as of Tuesday, the national average diesel price was $6.29 per gallon, up from $3.68 a year earlier, intensifying pressure on the White House to show it is acting on supply and prices.
Sherrill's move positions New Jersey against the federal waiver just as global traders look for U.S. buyers, turning the state's busy ports into an early test of how far companies will go in balancing federal guidance, state warnings, and the risk of running afoul of the 2022 sanctions law.
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📌 Key Facts
- On November 2, 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill sent a letter warning New Jersey port and terminal operators not to accept Russian diesel shipments.
- Sherrill said importing Russian diesel would violate an April 2022 congressional ban on Russian energy imports and could trigger civil and criminal charges.
- The Treasury Department on October 9, 2026, announced a temporary waiver of Russia energy sanctions to allow Russian diesel onto global markets, which Sherrill says exceeds executive authority.
- Sherrill stated that Russia has already sent multiple diesel tankers toward the U.S., including at least one that may be bound for New Jersey.
- As of November 3, 2026, AAA reported the national average diesel price at $6.29 per gallon, up from $3.68 a year earlier.
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