LNG companies say they cannot comply with Trump rules on Chinese vessels

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The LNG industry has warned the Trump administration that it cannot follow new rules designed to force them to use US transport vessels by setting charges for ship -built shipyard in US ports.

It warns the rules published by Jameno Greer, a US trade representative, on 17 April that could damage $ 34 billion per year export industry It is central to the President’s « Energy Deficiency » program, which, according to the lobby letters sent by the American Petroleum Institute, is in the administration this week.

The new rules are part of the US efforts to increase China’s pressure on what Washington claims are unfair trading practices while increasing the domestic manufacturing of ships.

However, they have caused an alarm among US exporters who are concerned that they are dramatically increasing the cost of contract vessels.

The LNG industry has already benefited from a three-year delay in implementing the rules to the industry, which is heavily dependent on Chinese and foreign buildings.

Ustr also gradually grades the use of US -built and flag vessels gradually to LNG producers gradually over 22 years. However, US authorities may still determine the suspension of LNG export licenses if the conditions of the new rules are not met.

But in the letters, the application subscription warns to US energy secretaries and interior that it is impossible for liquefied natural gas producers to comply with the rules.

There are currently no US construction -built ships that are unable to supply LNG, and US shipyards do not have the extra capacity to build carriers of liquefied natural gas by the 2029 deadline, according to people reported on the content of the letters.

API warns that the rules endanger US producers’ ability to control global liquefied natural gas industry and the position of cement America status global energy superpower.

The group claims that this anti -industrial activity can cause future US administrative authorities to be creative and use similar trading tools as a way to suspend export licenses.

Industry has also requested the administration to release the broadcasts of crude oil and purified products, such as gasoline and liquefied oil gas, and would point out that such charges would carefully interfere with a balanced supply chain and hit the industry’s competitiveness.

When asked about the letter, API told the Financial Times that it understood the need to curb discrimination from China and increase US shipbuilding, but he was concerned about the rules.

« We will continue to cooperate with the USTR and the Ministry of Energy to support a feasible and sustainable policy that benefits consumers and promotes the dominant position of American energy, » said Aaron Pad, a corporate policy Aaron Pad.

Charlie Riedl, Managing Director of the LNG Center of the Industrial Group, said that the measures would risk weakening long-term contracts, raising the costs of global buyers and threatening America as a leading export of LNG.

« That’s why we have urged Ustr to release the LNG marine and liquefied natural gas drivers completely, » he said.

The United States passed Australia in 2023 to become the world’s largest exporter and last year sent 11.9 BN cubic meters per day during liquefied land day – enough to satisfy the combined gas needs of Germany and French. The industry has ambitious plans to double export by the end of the decade.

New Chinese -owned, owned and managed vessels have aroused US industry lobbying, including farmers and other exporters who have warned that it will raise freight costs.

According to the rules, the United States will start charging charges for ship owners and Chinese operators $ 50 net tonne of $ 180, increasing $ 30 in the three years following a net tonne. There will be a smaller number of companies in the rest of the world to use vessels in China.

So far, the oil and gas industry, which was the great donor of the Trump election campaign, has so far enjoyed winning a considerable success from the administration, including importing oil and gas into the United States, which are excluded from the tariffs.