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With Trump back in the White House after a campaign filled with threats of high tariffs on foreign goods, the European Union wants to avoid a damaging trade war with its biggest ally.
European Commission President von der Leyen said it was "very important" that Brussels engage with Trump around "common interests," pointing to her first conversation with him on November 7.
"The common interests are, for example - this is one of the topics we touched on, I wouldn't say discussed - it's the whole topic of LNG," she said in Budapest, where EU leaders are wrapping up two days of discussions.
Europe still gets "a lot of LNG through Russia," von der Leyen said, adding, "Why not replace it with American LNG, which is cheaper for us and brings down energy prices."
She said the issue could also be discussed in relation to the EU's trade deficit with the United States.
During his election campaign, Trump promised at least a 10% duty on all imports and other measures. The aim, according to him, is to target countries that have been 'ripping us off for years' and to reduce the US trade deficit.
The European Union increased purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but failed to completely sever its energy link with Moscow.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also insisted there could be areas of compromise with the next US administration under Trump.
"Ultimately, the growth and strength of the United States depends on the fact that it trades with the whole world, and it trades both ways. From that point of view, I think the foundations are in place to develop a common policy," Scholz told a news conference in Budapest after the leaders' talks." | BGNES
