The European Union is considering increasing its imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) to ease trade tensions with President Donald Trump, while simultaneously stepping up efforts to expand renewable energy capacity. According to the Financial Times, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasized that although the bloc remains committed to its green energy transition, purchasing more US gas could be part of a broader diplomatic response to Washington’s tariff demands.

Trump recently introduced sweeping tariffs, prompting the EU to look for ways to placate the US administration. Although the president announced a temporary 90-day pause and reduced many of the tariffs shortly after implementation, he also urged the EU to buy around $350 billion worth of US energy to address trade imbalances. He dismissed a proposed “zero-for-zero” tariff deal from Brussels covering industrial goods and automobiles. The US is already the EU’s top LNG supplier, providing 45% of its imports in 2024, worth approximately $13 billion.

Jørgensen noted that further LNG purchases would need to align with the EU’s climate goals. “There is potential for us to buy more LNG from the US, but it must be consistent with our green transition,” he said, after discussing the matter with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. While the European Commission cannot directly mandate purchases, it can encourage companies to sign additional contracts.

Despite global economic uncertainty, the EU is on track to add a record 89 gigawatts of renewable power capacity in 2025—including 70GW of solar and 19GW of wind energy. Still, bureaucratic obstacles such as lengthy permitting processes and inadequate grid connections remain a major hurdle. Jørgensen acknowledged these challenges and said the EU must reduce permitting times from five to seven years down to just six months, even if it means revisiting certain environmental regulations.

“High energy prices are unsustainable in a globally competitive economy,” Jørgensen stated. “We’ve spent more on fossil fuels from Russia since 2022 than we’ve given in aid to Ukraine.”

The commissioner will announce the renewable energy projections at a Copenhagen industry conference, aiming to reassure investors in offshore wind who have been rattled by Trump’s pro-fossil fuel stance. Rasmus Errboe, CEO of wind giant Ørsted, warned of a “downward spiral” in the European wind sector due to rising costs and supply chain issues. Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium are expected to hurt several European companies with US projects, including Ørsted.

Trade body WindEurope projected a 34% rise in wind capacity in 2025 compared to the previous year, though 2024 fell short due to permitting delays and grid issues. Similarly, solar growth slowed significantly, from 53% in 2023 to just 4% last year. While EU solar exports to the US remain limited, SolarPower Europe warned that key component exports could still face significant impact.

Jørgensen concluded that Europe could benefit from the current economic turmoil, positioning itself as a “safe haven” due to its regulatory stability and commitment to clean energy.