Milwaukee (AFP) – The United States told Europe on Thursday to cooperate with Washington's efforts to lower diesel prices, while a top EU official said a US export ban of the fuel would be "unexpected."

"It is in Europe's best interest to work with the United States as we pursue multiple pathways to boost the supply of refined products and lower costs for consumers," a US official told AFP.

Reports said the Trump administration wanted France and Germany in particular to tap their strategic reserves of diesel to try to curb prices sent soaring by the US war on Iran.

The US is piling on pressure to get European help with fuel costs, with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday floating the possibility of banning diesel exports.

High energy costs loom as a threat to Trump's Republican party in next month's midterm elections.

Still, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic told reporters Thursday that any move by the US to ban diesel exports would be "unexpected for Europeans."

He spoke on the sidelines of a two-day G20 trade ministers' gathering in Milwaukee, after meeting with Trump's top trade official Jamieson Greer.

Sefcovic told reporters that he did not go into details with Greer on energy exports.

But the transatlantic partners "decided to stay in close touch to avoid any surprises here," he said.

"It would have very dramatic consequences for our economic performance," Sefcovic said of any potential diesel export ban.

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