The European Union is reportedly considering a comprehensive trade offer to US President Donald Trump, according to internal EU circles. The EU is said to be working on a concrete proposal in an internal taskforce, with the goal of increasing demand for US liquefied natural gas (LNG) by reducing imports from Russia.
The European Commission is expected to propose a phased-out reduction of Russian gas imports as part of the 16th sanctions package against Russia, which would require unanimous approval from the 27 EU member states. This move could be part of the EU’s trade offer to the US, along with the possibility of purchasing additional modern weapons systems or easing the import of US-made automobiles to the EU.
Bernd Lange, the chairman of the European Parliament’s trade committee, believes that importing more LNG from the US is a viable option. “We could import more liquefied natural gas from the US if we reduce our supply from Russia” he said. “We need to discuss with the member states whether Russian LNG can be sanctioned as well.”
The reduction of Russian gas imports is also seen as a way to prevent the EU’s climate goals from being undermined by the increased use of US gas. However, the environmental impact of switching to US LNG is a matter of debate. A study by Cornell University found that LNG from the US is actually more climate-damaging than coal when considering the entire production chain.