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France urges EU to hold firm against Trump’s trade demands

by editor

BRUSSELS — France has advised the European Union to remain steadfast amidst ongoing deliberations on how to address U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs. The U.S. leader is insisting that the EU significantly increase its purchases of American fossil fuels, prompting EU officials to consider a range of concessions to appease him.

However, French Industry and Energy Minister Marc Ferracci has stressed the importance of not giving in to these demands. He noted, “These negotiations are bound to be difficult given the positions expressed by the American president,” adding, “you can’t go into a negotiation making concessions up front.” Ferracci emphasized the need to resist Trump’s demands, stating, “And above all, I don’t think we should give in to Donald Trump’s demands as a matter of principle.”

Concerns over U.S. LNG dependency

France currently stands as the largest buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) among EU nations. According to recent reports, the country imported 660,000 tons of Russian LNG last month, which accounted for 43 percent of the EU’s total imports. This dependence is partly due to the involvement of French energy giant TotalEnergies, which holds a significant stake in Russia’s Yamal LNG project, under a long-term agreement requiring the company to purchase a minimum of 4 million tons of LNG annually until 2032.

EU Trade Chief Maroš Šefčovič recently informed the European Parliament that the European Commission is prepared to explore deeper cooperation with the U.S., particularly in areas involving LNG purchases and initiatives to combat China’s market-distorting practices. Furthermore, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has engaged directly with Trump regarding energy matters, indicating a willingness to consider increased imports of American LNG. The U.S. has now become the EU’s primary supplier of this supercooled fuel, following Norway.

Negotiating a balanced energy strategy

Despite the proactive stance of EU officials, Ferracci’s remarks reflect a rising skepticism among European leaders concerning the viability of increasing LNG imports from the U.S. Officials from Germany and Finland have expressed concerns that such a shift could undermine the EU’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 2050.

In light of Russia’s recent actions, the EU has sought alternative sources of gas, turning to the U.S. and the Middle East to ensure energy security. However, Ferracci confirmed that France has no intentions of altering its current stance regarding Russian LNG or supporting an outright ban on imports. He stated, “At this stage, our stance is to maintain that balance,” highlighting the EU’s strategy to phase out Russian LNG by 2027 while finding a sustainable path forward.

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