Xi Seeks to Reboot $6 Billion LNG Trade with Trump
China's President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Washington this week, and one possible area of agreement with Trump administration officials is reviving a $6 billion-a-year trade in US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The US is the world's largest exporter of LNG, and China is its top buyer. However, after 2025, Beijing retaliated against Washington's aggressive tariff campaign by imposing punitive levies on US energy imports.
Since then, Chinese companies have continued to meet their contractual obligations but resold LNG shipments to buyers in Europe and Asia rather than paying the 15% tariff.
Jane Nakano, a senior fellow at Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that LNG is an area of mutual gain. Restoring trade ties would underpin the growth of the US LNG industry.