China has just suspended all LNG imports from the United States. No warning, no phasedown, just an apparent state directive that Chinese buyers, including the national oil companies, were no longer to sign, lift, or receive U.S. liquefied natural gas. The decision comes in the wake of a rapidly escalating trade war, reignited by a second Trump presidency that wasted no time imposing steep new tariffs on Chinese technology and industrial goods. The result is a gaping hole in the U.S. LNG export market, one that undermines years of investment assumptions and exposes the growing fragility of fossil fuel infrastructure in a changing geopolitical landscape…
Ironically, Trump’s trade war — by freezing China-bound shipments and halting new terminal progress — may have delivered an unexpected climate silver lining: a substantial brake on future emissions from fossil gas infrastructure that would otherwise lock in decades of high-carbon export activity. In trying to punish a geopolitical rival, he has accidentally slowed the expansion of one of America’s most emissions-intensive energy sectors.
The final irony is political. U.S. oil and gas executives spent heavily during the 2024 election cycle, once again backing Trump in the hopes of favorable policies, looser regulations, and accelerated fossil fuel exports. Billions were spent on lobbying, campaign donations, and friendly media to amplify the message that fossil fuels meant freedom and prosperity. - CleanTechnica
Monday, April 21, 2025
Trump inadvertently screws US LNG exporters
I actually think this won't last long. Once he realizes that his trade war's a disaster for his own public standing Trump will back down. Probably with the "help" of some quiet, though very substantial, corporate bribes.
My impression is that the US supplies less than 2% LNG from America, so they shouldn't have any problem getting more from Russia where they get about 10%.
ReplyDeleteYep, that crazy "Art of the Deal" master has done it again ... brought China and Russia closer together.
BTW ... if China is our enemy why don't the Republicans demand that America stop selling LNG to China (and Russia, North Korea and Iran) ? The Senate's current bill is S1274 Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act but the House has no companion.