The UK government has privately asked the US government to exempt the country if it bans diesel exports.

According to Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter, officials in the government of Andy Burnham, the UK prime minister, have held talks in recent days with their American counterparts.

Britain is one of the largest importers of American diesel.

John Healey, the UK finance minister, said: “I understand the pressure that this situation is putting on people and businesses.”

He added that the government has postponed the increase in fuel taxes, which was supposed to be implemented in Shahrivar, until next year.

On Sunday, Donald Trump, the US president, said he is considering the export ban “very seriously.”