The Group of Seven agreed after an Oct. 2 meeting chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron to release 100 million barrels of stockpiled diesel, crude oil and other fuels over four months through the International Energy Agency, with large diesel volumes prioritized during the first 20 days and exports left unrestricted. The decision followed warnings that U.S. diesel exports to Europe could be halted, although President Trump said Oct. 2 that he would not impose an export ban and called the European reserve release a "great thing." Oil prices were mixed after reports of attacks around the Strait of Hormuz: U.K. Maritime Trade Operations said seven vessel strikes had been reported since Sept. 28 and reported another strike on Sunday without specifying when it occurred; front-month WTI was little changed at $91.15 a barrel and Brent rose 0.4% to $102.66, compared with earlier reported settlements of $91.11 and $102.25. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said higher Hormuz flows, record U.S. gasoline production, weaker post-summer demand and the stockpile release should lower gasoline and diesel prices through winter, with diesel falling below $6 before too long, although conflict created no guarantees. Europe depends on the U.S. for about one-third of its diesel demand, while diesel recently reached a record national average of $6.53 a gallon, intensifying pressure on trucking and becoming a political flashpoint before the midterm elections.