Trade deal opens new markets to US LNG
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal was signed on 5 October, making it easier for US LNG to expand to new markets
The US and 11 other countries sealed the long-negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal on 5 October, making it easier for US liquefied natural gas exporters (LNG) to access major new markets, especially Japan. When evaluating proposed LNG export plants, the Department of Energy draws a distinction between those that plan to ship gas to countries that have free-trade agreements (FTA) with the US and those that don’t. For those that don’t, a longer, more complex and costlier permitting process is required, which has been a source of irritation and complaint from the burgeoning natural gas export industry. “TPP will address current barriers to global markets,” Stefan Selig, a
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
