TotalEnergies CEO, Patrick Pouyanne said yesterday, following the company’s results presentation, that European countries should negotiate to obtain a free trade guarantee on US LNG.
His comments came on the back of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs threat on Chinese imports, which led to Beijing countering with a 15% levy on US LNG and 10% on US crude oil on Tuesday.
Pouyanne added that US LNG export capacity should practically double in coming years.
"But what happens if all of a sudden the US decides they must export less than they've done historically? ... We must not pass from a so-called over-dependence on Russia to an over-dependence on another country, even if it's an ally," he said.
"There are two types of countries: those with free trade agreements that the Americans have signed and under which they cannot suspend exports, and then countries without free trade agreements, like Europe."
"I think it would be good for Europeans to ask the Americans in the negotiations that are to come, for a sort of free-trade guarantee on LNG," he added.
