The European Union is open to significantly increasing its purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States in an effort to ease tensions with President Donald Trump and potentially prevent new tariffs on EU exports, European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has indicated.
Jorgensen acknowledged that there is room for higher LNG imports from the U.S., but stressed that any such agreements must align with the EU’s broader environmental and energy strategies. As part of its push toward a greener future, the EU plans to install a record number of wind turbines and solar panels this year, continuing its investment in renewable energy to drive down energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
President Trump has pressured the EU to increase its purchases of American crude oil and LNG, tying these energy deals to the removal of potential import tariffs. Since taking office, he has consistently argued that boosting U.S. energy exports is key to addressing the U.S.-EU trade imbalance.
This week, Trump demanded the EU commit to buying an additional $350 billion worth of American LNG—a move he claims would eliminate the trade deficit with the EU. According to him, such a commitment could balance the trade ledger within a week.
A deal of this size would equate to around 40 million tons of LNG. For context, the EU imported about 75 million tons of LNG in total last year, according to Eurostat. This means the proposed agreement would represent more than half of the EU’s current annual LNG imports.
