US seeks exemption from EU methane emissions law requirements until 2035. A US government file that was available to the press describes this action as the latest chapter of the story of transatlantic climate policy discussions and energy trade disagreements.

As a European-wide methane emission regulation is about to be enforced, the US wants to be released from its provisions for gas exports to the European Union (EU) , as in European countries, the need for American liquefied natural gas (LNG) is increasing in order to substitute Russian gas.

U.S. Pushes for Delay and Equivalence

Washington informed the EU, as per the document, to hold off the implementation of the methane reporting requirement for U.S. companies under the EU Methane Regulation (EUMR) until October 2035.

A request was also made by Washington to Brussels to treat the U.S. methane standards as conforming with the EU ones, whereby U.S. producers would be considered compliant by default, and to forego the imposition of fines if the U.S. oil and gas imports are not in line with the EU standards. The document referred to the methane regulation as “a critical non-tariff trade barrier” that creates a heavy burden on U.S. exporters.

Also Read: India’s Green Energy Transition Could Create 11 Million Tons Of Waste, Report Warns

Industry Concerns

Speaking about the methane regulation, the EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said that the bloc is not going to abandon the law and weaken it. While the bloc is giving companies easier ways to meet their obligations to tackle the complicated supply chains, the main requirements of the law will still be there. “We are trying to be as helpful as we can with regards to implementation, but the legislation stands,” Jorgensen stated, confirming that no exemptions or withdrawals are considered.

A joint paper by oil and gas industry groups in the U.S. and the EU suggested pushing back the date of more stringent obligations to 2027. Dan Byers of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the regulation “uniquely complicated for the United States,” and referred to the problem of tracking co-mingled molecules from different producers. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s move to roll back federal emissions reporting requirements makes it even harder for the U.S. to claim equivalence with EU standards.

Also Read: Hazardous Pesticide Practices Exposed In South Asia, Yavatmal Cotton Belt A Key Concern

Climate Stakes and Next Steps

Methane is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide, hence the EU law represents a world-first policy aimed at cutting methane emissions. There are still talks between Brussels and Washington on how to achieve the right balance between energy security and climate goals.

US seeks exemption from EU methane emissions law; EU officials are still resolute that the regulation will continue to determine future fuel imports. However, the parties have not yet reached an agreement and are still discussing implementation ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌details.

Also Read: Earth Is Heating Faster Than Thought—But Only Better Models Can Reveal How Much