Lawmakers warn against carve-outs for American energy firms
From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification standards tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of US lawmakers is now urging Brussels to stick firmly to those rules and resist calls to exempt American energy producers if US standards fall short on accuracy or enforcement.
In a letter obtained by Euronews and signed by 24 members of Congress, the lawmakers describe the EU’s methane regulation as a vital tool to curb the wasteful venting and flaring of natural gas. Methane, they note, is a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas, trapping up to 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide.
They argue that applying clear and consistent rules to all exporters is essential to reduce trade friction between countries with higher environmental standards, while rewarding companies that already use proven technologies to cut methane leaks.
Brussels signals flexibility, but not a rollback
The European Commission has acknowledged concerns about the complexity of the new rules and has outlined ways to make them easier to implement. In a letter to EU member states, it proposed allowing importers to rely on third-party certificates verifying emissions at production sites or to use a “trace and claim” system that digitally tracks fuel volumes through the supply chain.
Despite these adjustments, the Commission has made clear that the core of the law remains intact. A spokesperson said there are no plans to grant exemptions and that the EU is standing by the regulation’s ambition while working with industry and international partners to ensure a smooth rollout.
The issue has taken on added significance as the EU and US move closer to a major energy trade deal, under which Europe is expected to purchase around $250 billion worth of oil, gas and nuclear energy from the US each year through 2028.
US policy shifts create uncertainty for exporters
The appeal from US lawmakers stands in contrast to criticism from US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who warned during a visit to Brussels last year that the methane rules could disrupt trade. It also comes amid mixed signals from Washington. While the US Environmental Protection Agency tightened methane regulations in 2024 to align with EU standards, those measures were delayed the following year, creating uncertainty for companies and their overseas partners.
Environmental groups say firms that have already invested in methane monitoring and emissions controls are well placed to compete under tougher rules. According to the International Energy Agency, methane accounts for about 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution, underscoring why the EU’s approach is being closely watched on both sides of the Atlantic.
