RIGA — Latvia is keen to secure more U.S. gas in an effort to appease Donald Trump — an endorsement of the EU’s emerging strategy to prevent a trade war with the new U.S. president.
“We are interested in strengthening energy cooperation with our strategic partner, the United States, including increasing [liquefied natural gas] imports,” Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže told POLITICO in an interview.
Trump has been demanding that the EU buy more U.S. fossil fuel or face stiff tariffs. On Sunday, he ratcheted up his threats, vowing to move forward with 25 percent tariffs on EU steel and aluminum.
But some EU countries have expressed skepticism about upping LNG imports to mollify Trump. Germany said it would be practically difficult to buy more U.S. gas given already high consumption, while Finland argued the move would jeopardize the EU’s climate goals.
