U.S. Senator Warns France's Macron over Gas Exports Deal Delay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Any French involvement in holding up a multi-billion natural gas deal over environmental concerns could damage the country's trade ties with the United States, a Republican Senator has warned in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Reuters and other outlets reported last month that the French government asked power group Engie to delay signing a 20-year $7 billion U.S. liquefied natural gas import contract on concerns about U.S. environmental rollbacks.
"If reports are true, the intervention could have negative implications for the future of trade between our two great countries," Senator Kevin Cramer said in a letter sent to Macron, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.
The French embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Engie's contract would be with NextDecade Corp, which is expected to decide soon whether to build a proposed Rio Grande LNG export plant in Texas.
Cramer is a Republican representing North Dakota, a large oil and gas producing state, and an ally of President Donald Trump.
He led an effort earlier this year with several other Republican senators to persuade Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States that the kingdom should stop producing oil flat out during a war over market share with Russia that led to a deep fall in the oil price.
The French government said in October it would stop providing state export guarantees to projects involving more polluting forms of oil, such as shale, from next year, followed by all types of oil from 2025 and gas from 2035.
Cramer said in the letter that the United States is cutting emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, while increasing production of natural gas.
The Trump administration has relaxed standards on methane emissions from oil and gas facilities.
Related News
Related News
- Phillips 66 to Shut LA Oil Refinery, Ending Major Gasoline Output Amid Supply Concerns
- FERC Sides with Williams in Texas-Louisiana Pipeline Dispute with Energy Transfer
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
Comments