A New Jersey official, Mikie Sherrill, has warned port and terminal operators to refrain from accepting Russian diesel shipments heading towards the East Coast of the United States. In a letter sent on Monday, Sherrill emphasized that the Trump administration's authorization for importing these shipments is illegal under federal law and could expose businesses to million-dollar fines.
Details of the New Jersey Official's Warning
In this letter, Sherrill has requested port operators to turn back tankers carrying Russian fuel and has promised to use New Jersey's legal and regulatory powers to prevent the unloading of these shipments at state terminals. This warning comes as at least one tanker carrying Russian diesel is en route to the East Coast of the United States. Last month, the Trump administration temporarily authorized imports of Russian diesel to reduce high fuel prices.
Read more: Development of Home Solar Power Plants as an Energy Security Solution
Controversy Over General License 135
The main controversy revolves around General License 135, which was issued on October 9 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This license permits transactions related to the sale, delivery, unloading, and import of diesel originating from Russia until April 7, 2027. However, Sherrill believes that this license contradicts the law prohibiting the import of Russian oil and petrochemical products, which was enacted in April 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This law prohibits the import of Russian oil and petrochemical products, including diesel. Sherrill argues that this law does not allow the President or the Treasury Department to broadly lift the ban without congressional approval. She also stated that this license should have undergone congressional review before being enacted.
Legal Consequences for Companies
In her letter, Sherrill warned that companies participating in illegal imports may face penalties equal to the value of the cargo under federal customs laws, which could amount to millions of dollars. The Treasury Department believes that their license complies with relevant laws, placing port operators in a difficult position. They are caught between the federal government's decision to allow these shipments and the warnings from state officials and lawmakers that processing these shipments could lead to future legal actions.
Sherrill's warning follows a similar action by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who last week asked the owner of the Aguy Fundens tanker to turn the vessel back, claiming that the federal license cannot override the 2022 import ban.
Sherrill has also criticized the government for allowing the purchase of Russian fuel while Moscow continues its war against Ukraine and supports Iran. She emphasized that New Jersey will not allow the state's ports to contribute to financing these activities.
Currently, it is unclear whether any Russian diesel tanker will attempt to unload at a terminal in New Jersey. However, as the Aguy Fundens remains at sea with its destination unconfirmed, legal and political pressures surrounding this shipment continue to rise.
Read more: Mojtaba Tavanagar: A Nuclear Bomb is Cheaper than the Costs of a Major War · A Reduction of 130 Million Cubic Meters in the Country's Gas Production Capacity Following Enemy Attacks
