Trade war spills over
US-China tensions likely to prompt shift in crude, LNG flows
The escalating trade conflict between Donald Trump's US Administration and China overflowed into energy markets in August, as China announced that it's prepared to impose tariffs of up to 25% on US energy exports. Analysts and industry officials believe the tariffs, if imposed, could have significant longer-term effects on the US oil and liquefied natural gas industries. Since the US renewed large-scale exports of crude oil in 2015 and LNG from the Lower 48 States in 2016, China has emerged as a significant importer of both. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) says that, in 2017, China took in 224,000 barrels a day, or 20% of US oil exports. By May of this year US exports to China
Also in this section
28 May 2025
A shortage of options for the development of port infrastructure to service oil and gas majors is a stumbling block the country needs to overcome to fulfil its potential
27 May 2025
Country is boosting domestic energy production while targeting development of oil and gas reserves in Africa and Asia
27 May 2025
A newly formed joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Sinopec signals rising Gulf interest in the Asian market
23 May 2025
LNG projects need the certainty of long-term contracts, but Henry-Hub–linked deals put buyers at significant risk
