The European Parliament is set to vote on the customs agreement concluded last year with the United States on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Will Donald Trump cut off gas to Europeans? The US administration threatens to restrict LNG (liquefied natural gas) shipments if Europe rejects the customs agreement. The European Parliament is expected to vote on this on Thursday, March 26.
If not outright blackmail, it is definitely a clear warning. The US ambassador to the EU, Andrew Puzder, cautions that if Europe wants to survive economically, it needs energy. In an interview with the Financial Times, he implies a threat to limit access to American gas if the European Parliament rejects the trade deal with the Americans.
“The conditions will not be as favorable,” warns the ambassador appointed by Donald Trump. In other words, gas deliveries to Europe will be more expensive and less voluminous. The US commissioner also warns: “there are other players in the market,” hinting at clients other than Europeans, particularly countries in Asia.
With Europe increasingly shunning Russian gas, it has turned to American imports, becoming more reliant on the US. American gas imports to Europe have multiplied between 2021 and 2025, now accounting for a quarter of European gas consumption – behind only Norway at around 30%.
In terms of LNG, which is gas transported by ship rather than pipeline, the US holds a dominant position. Over 60% of LNG consumed in Europe comes from the US. The dependence may increase further as Norway reaches its export capacity limit. Washington is aware of this dependency and appears to be leveraging it in trade negotiations.
