Bill Would Restrict LNG Exports to China
Reps. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla., introduced a bill Jan. 14 aimed at preventing sales of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China and other "foreign adversaries."
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
While the Protecting American Energy Security Act would not ban such exports outright, it would require the Energy Department to certify that such sales are in the public interest. The legislation, which was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, comes as the Trump administration pursues a deal to sell U.S. energy to China.
The lawmakers said they want to ensure China does not use American LNG to conduct cyber operations against the U.S. "This bill is simple: America should not be fueling our adversaries," Elfreth said. The lawmakers are also concerned that expanding LNG exports could increase domestic natural gas prices.
In November, the House passed a bill that would eliminate a requirement that DOE authorize LNG exports, leaving the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole authority for the approval process (see 2511230001).