"Diplomats told E.U. officials that the bloc’s law on methane, a potent greenhouse gas, would hurt American oil and gas companies."

"The Trump administration wants the European Union to exempt American oil and gas companies from a landmark law aimed at curbing emissions of methane, a powerful planet-warming gas.

In recent days U.S. diplomats have verbally informed officials in European countries that the Trump administration considers the 27-member bloc’s methane regulations costly, confusing and a threat to American gas supplies to Europe, according to four E.U. and U.S. officials.

Short of a repeal of the law, the United States wants American oil and gas companies to be exempted from any penalties, according to the four people, who had direct knowledge of the conversations, as well as a document that European energy ministers circulated among themselves ahead of a meeting on Monday in Brussels, which was obtained by The New York Times.

The four officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times December 16, 2025. [2]