Europe thought it had a way to go beyond Trump’s prices. He didn’t care. – Politico

“We are trying to identify who are the key people of the American administration; You must understand who can really deliver – some … may not be what their titles say, “said one of these envoys in March, complaining that key roles in the White House and the State Department responsible for the management of Europe had remained without solution a few weeks after the inauguration.

Compliating the question more, said the diplomat, the Trump administration preferred to communicate directly with the individual capitals of the EU, Even if Brussels plays a central role in the commercial policy of its 27 members.

“Trump considers the EU as the only thing between him and subjugating it from individual countries to his will,” said the diplomat. “Thus, the main bridge for us was the national capitals. France, Germany, Italy – They are very well connected and these are the channels that we were forced to use. ”

Two officials from EU countries said they had expressed their desire to buy more American LNG in Washington, but that the United States had no clarity on the operation of an agreement or what Europe would get in return.

Fossil fuel fury

In addition to diplomatic obstacles abroad, there have been challenges at home. Many EU countries already depend on American gas, and the increase in imports would have more obstacles.

“There is not much more than we can do,” said the German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck in January, Noting that 90% of LNGs in his country already came from American sources.