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Economist 'punches three big holes' in Trump's new 'really bad idea'

rawstory.com · 2hShare

University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers has a warning about President Donald Trump's ban on diesel exports: it could leave the country short on supplies it needs. Wolfers laid out his case in a video for his newsletter, Platypus Economics, and shared it on X Saturday. He said three "boring questions" expose the policy's flaws: "can it be stored, what else is made with it, and are we creating supply?" "Those punch three big holes in Trump's diesel export ban," he wrote. In the video, Wolfers argued that the policy will make foreign buyers stop seeing American fuel as dependable. "If foreign buyers learn that American diesel comes with a political cancellation clause, they're going to go looking elsewhere," he said. He said the damage won't end with lost sales. Countries hurt by the ban could look for ways to hit back, and China already has one. Beijing has restricted exports of rare earths and other critical materials during past trade fights. Those minerals end up in "our cars,

First report: Economist sounds the alarm as Trump's 'bonkers' threats come home to roost — rawstory.com, 2d