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A proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule designed to expand biofuel use actually has brought the biodiesel market “to a grinding halt,” because it does not allow most blends of soy oil, according to the National Biodiesel Board.

In the face of growing pressure on the federal government to regulate oil markets and trading, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a new rule that could result in fines of up to $1 million if traders or companies are found manipulating fuel markets.

The average retail price of a gallon of diesel in the United States rose 7.5 cents last week to $2.625, the highest level this year, the Energy Department reported.

Daimler Trucks North America will raise its heavy-duty truck prices for 2010 models by $9,000 to account for new emissions technology, with medium-duty trucks costing $6,700 to $7,300 more than 2009 models.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission should create position limits on energy contracts across all trading platforms to protect the trucking industry from excessive speculation in oil futures, a representative of American Trucking Associations testified at recent CFTC hearings.

The selective catalytic reduction process that most engine manufacturers will use to comply with 2010 federal diesel emission standards could emit toxic byproducts, the California Air Resources Board’s top researcher wrote in a recent letter filed in federal court by Navistar Inc.

U.S. retail fuel prices continued to rise last week, as the average cost of a gallon of diesel climbed 2.2 cents to $2.55 a gallon, while gasoline jumped 5.4 cents to $2.557, the second straight week of increases, the Department of Energy reported.