POLITICO Energy Trump and Qatar pressure EU to weaken key climate law
Oct 23, 2025
Ben Lefebvre, deputy energy editor at POLITICO and expert in energy policy, discusses the strategic alliance between the Trump administration and Qatar against EU climate regulations. They argue that these laws could lead to higher energy prices, particularly in the liquefied natural gas sector. Lefebvre reveals how the LNG industry views the sustainability directive as costly and impractical. The conversation explores the implications of this pressure on Europe's climate policies and the broader U.S. strategy to dominate fossil fuel exports.
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US Pushes EU To Weaken Climate Rule
- The Trump administration pressured the EU to roll back a corporate sustainability due diligence directive targeting supply-chain emissions.
- The U.S. DOE argued the rule would raise costs and burden LNG exporters with complex supply-chain checks.
LNG Industry Says Rule Is Too Costly
- LNG industry groups argue the due diligence directive imposes costly tracking of emissions across complex supply chains.
- They say tracing origin and emissions through pipelines and suppliers would be administratively and financially burdensome.
Qatar Joins U.S. To Protect LNG Sales
- Qatar joined the U.S. in opposing the EU rule because it is a top LNG exporter with the same commercial exposure.
- The joint move framed the challenge as an industry-wide concern, not just a U.S. demand.