US Pushes for 2035 Delay on EU Methane Reporting Rules
The United States has requested that the European Union exempt its oil and gas imports from the EU's methane emissions regulations until 2035, according to a U.S. government document obtained by Reuters.
The United States has requested that the European Union exempt its oil and gas imports from the EU's methane emissions regulations until 2035, according to a U.S. government document obtained by Reuters.
Starting this year, the EU mandates that importers monitor and report methane emissions from oil and gas shipments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, oppose it, arguing it’s impractical and could disrupt U.S. gas supplies to Europe, which increasingly relies on U.S. liquefied natural gas as it shifts from Russian energy sources.
The U.S. document suggests that, unless theEU law is fully repealed, Washington requests that the EU delay the requirement for U.S. emissions data reporting until October 2035. The U.S. sees the EU methane rules as a trade barrier that burdens American exporters.
The Department of Energy has not responded to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the EU plans to make compliance easier for companies, especially those with complex supply chains involving multiple production sources, by providing simplified verification methods.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen affirmed that the bloc intends to uphold the methane law, which will progressively tighten regulations on fuel imports. He emphasised that the legislation remains firm and will not be withdrawn or exempted.
The EU also seeks to recognise U.S. methane regulations as equivalent, allowing American producers to automatically meet EU standards without additional penalties, though industry sources doubt this will happen due to the rollback of U.S. federal emission reporting by the Trump administration.
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A joint U.S.-EU industry paper proposes delaying stricter rules set to take effect in 2027. Industry groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlight the complexities U.S. producers face in complying with the EU’s methane law, given the widespread and interconnected nature of American oil and gas operations.
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