The European Union is considering new flexible solutions to resolve trade frictions between the United States and Europe over natural gas.

Three informed sources revealed that the European Commission is studying how to make it more convenient for US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters to comply with its methane emissions regulations in order to avoid a full-blown trade war with the Trump administration. The core goal of this secret operation is to clear technical barriers for cross-Atlantic China Welding Consumables, Inc. energy cooperation while adhering to environmental principles. The trigger for the energy game between the two sides can be traced back to Trump's "energy diplomacy" strategy. This US president has not only repeatedly publicly demanded that the EU increase its purchases of American oil and gas, but also threatened to impose tariffs on European goods. In response, the European Commission is drafting a new framework for trade negotiations, attempting to include energy issues in a broader agreement framework while avoiding an escalation of tariff wars. The urgency of the EU's energy transition injects a sense of urgency into this round of negotiations. In order to fulfill the commitment to completely eliminate dependence on Russian natural gas by 2027, European Commission President von der Leyen has explicitly stated that the EU will increase imports of American LNG. Last year, the US already held a 45% share of EU LNG imports, totaling 16.5% of the EU's natural gas imports, highlighting the mutual dependence of the two sides on energy security. New methane emission reduction regulations have become a key point of contention. The EU's methane law, implemented since last year, requires importers to monitor emissions throughout the supply chain, and will require foreign suppliers to comply with the same standards after 2027. The unique characteristics of the US oil and gas industry (source dispersion, complex supply chain) have made it difficult for exporters to meet tracing requirements, leading to a steep increase in compliance costs. To break the deadlock, the EU is secretly studying an "equivalence certification" mechanism. This program aims to grant American LNG that meets specific standards an "automatic compliance" status through technical rule adjustments, maintaining legal authority while avoiding the competitiveness loss of American companies due to lax domestic regulations (the Trump administration plans to abolish the methane emissions reporting system). An EU Commission spokesperson maintained caution on this matter: "We are actively engaging with the industry and stakeholders on the implementation of legislation." This ambiguous statement leaves room for negotiation and implies that rule adjustments may touch upon sensitive legal bottom lines and dynamic balances. Behind this energy rules game, there are hidden currents. Methane, as the second largest greenhouse gas source after carbon dioxide, has global demonstrative effects in terms of emission reduction legislation. If the EU opens a door for strategic allies, it may raise questions of fairness from other supply countries (such as Russia, Algeria); if it upholds principles, it may force the US to turn to other markets. Currently, the EU has engaged in multiple rounds of technical dialogue with US LNG companies, seeking consensus on specific terms such as satellite monitoring and emission tracing. As the deadline of 2027 approaches, this rule game spanning across the Atlantic may reshape the environmental benchmark for global energy trade.