© REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst
The Hill: Merkel moves to open up Germany to US gas imports after Trump's push: report
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is making a move to open up Germany's market to U.S. gas companies, following a lobbying push from President Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Merkel told a group of lawmakers over breakfast in October that her government will co-finance a $576 million liquified natural gas (LNG) shipping terminal in northern Germany, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the meeting.
The project had been stalled for years, but Trump has lobbied hard for Europe to increase LNG purchases from the U.S. while reducing their reliance on Russia.
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Update: In Win for Trump, Merkel Changes Course on U.S. Gas Imports (The Wall Street Journal)
WNU Editor: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is saying the decision to do this were "strategic", and it had nothing to do with U.S. pressure. Russian media has a different take .... Merkel Opens Up Germany to US LNG, Yielding to Trump's Pressure – Reports (Sputnik). More here .... Merkel wants more US natural gas in Germany – WSJ (RT). As to what is my take .... Russian media is correct. There are national security reasons, but President Trump also wants Germany to lower its trade surplus with the U.S., and for the Germans this is one way to alleviate that pressure.