European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that she suggested to President-elect Donald Trump that the U.S. could increase its supply of natural gas to Europe, aiming to reduce the EU’s reliance on Russian energy.
According to reports by Barron’s and AFP News, the EU chief emphasized the importance of collaborating with Trump on shared economic interests, particularly in light of the bloc’s trade deficit with the United States.
“We still get a lot of LNG from Russia, and why not replace it [with] American LNG, which is cheaper for us and brings down our energy prices?” said von der Leyen, Reuters reported.
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The proposal comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. LNG exports. The Biden-Harris administration faced backlash earlier this year for halting new approvals of LNG export terminals. However, President-elect Trump has pledged to reverse these restrictions, aiming to boost American energy exports and revive domestic production.
Trump’s return to the White House has already prompted reactions from European leaders. Officials from France and Germany acknowledged that the EU would need to increase its defense spending, anticipating a shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s administration.
Meanwhile, some U.S. companies are bracing for the potential reintroduction of tariffs. During his previous term, Trump imposed tariffs on a range of imported goods, including steel and aluminum, significantly raising costs for foreign imports.
READ: White House Shoots Down Mike Johnson’s Plan To Link Ukraine Aid And LNG Reversal
In September, Trump vowed to enact a 200% tariff on John Deere tractors if the company moved production outside the United States. He also proposed making interest on car loans fully tax-deductible to stimulate domestic auto manufacturing.
Trump’s electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday was decisive, with the president-elect winning key battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. The U.S. stock market surged on Wednesday in response to the news, signaling investor optimism about Trump’s return to the Oval Office.
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