United States President Donald Trump threatens the European Union (EU) with trade tariffs. The new American administration is ready to start a trade war if Europe does not buy more oil and gas from the United States.

According to Bloomberg, Trump told reporters at the White House after his inauguration on January 20. " “Either we will settle this with tariffs, or they will have to buy our oil and gas,” the 47th President of the United States threatened..

However, this cannot be called a shock for the EU, which is already considering the possibility of increasing the volume of energy imports from the United States, which is the world's largest producer of crude oil and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).. And in 2024, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, publicly stated that LNG imports from the United States could replace Russian liquefied gas.

However, in the short term, there are not many opportunities for the United States to increase LNG exports. Because liquefied natural gas is sold under long-term contracts, adding cargo to Europe would require agreement from original buyers to redirect supplies to the EU, which would not increase US export volumes on its own. And it will take years to implement long-term agreements between European consumers and American LNG producers.

" We have more of them than anyone else,” he assured reporters.

Trump is seeking to boost American energy development by declaring an energy emergency and lifting a ban on offshore oil and gas leasing that has effectively blocked drilling in most US coastal waters.. He also lifted his predecessor Joe Biden's ban on the approval of new LNG export plants and lifted a moratorium on new export licenses..

Against this backdrop, after fluctuations, European LNG futures rose 1.6% in early trading. Demand for liquefied natural gas in Europe is expected to grow by more than 15% in 2025.