US demands EU reverse new climate rules to allow surge in gas imports

US and Qatar say new rules will hinder imports of LNG, posing existential threat' to European economies

The US has demanded that the European Union roll back its climate and human rights rules in order to allow greater imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the Trump administration approved a controversial gas export hub along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

A letter jointly sent by the US and Qatar, two of the three largest LNG exporters in the world, warned the EU that its new rules pose an existential threat" to European economies as they would hinder imports of gas from countries such as theirs.