The EU will have to commit to buying $350 billion of American energy to get a reprieve from sweeping tariffs, US President Donald Trump said yesterday.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the European Union (EU) will need to commit to purchasing $350 billion worth of American energy in order to secure relief from broad tariffs imposed by the United States. This statement marks a significant escalation in trade negotiations between the U.S. and the EU, as Trump continues to leverage America’s energy exports to reshape global trade relationships in favor of U.S. interests. The proposed deal, if accepted, would represent a major commitment from the EU to shift a substantial portion of its energy imports toward American producers.

Trump framed the demand as part of his broader strategy to balance trade and support U.S. industries, particularly in the energy sector. Over the past few years, the U.S. has become one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil, and the administration has been actively pushing for new markets. By tying tariff relief to energy purchases, the Trump administration is aiming to boost domestic energy companies and reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Europe, which has been a consistent point of contention in transatlantic relations.

European leaders, however, may view the demand as a heavy-handed attempt to interfere with market dynamics and energy policy sovereignty. The EU has long pursued a strategy of energy diversification to avoid overdependence on any single source or country. A $350 billion commitment to U.S. energy could complicate existing contracts with other major suppliers like Russia, Norway, and Middle Eastern nations. Additionally, such a shift would raise questions about infrastructure readiness, as importing larger volumes of American LNG would require significant upgrades to ports and storage facilities across the continent.

This development adds another layer of complexity to already tense EU-U.S. trade talks, which have seen disputes over steel and aluminum tariffs, digital taxation, and agricultural standards. While the EU has expressed interest in strengthening transatlantic energy ties, it remains uncertain whether European policymakers are willing—or even able—to meet such a large and politically charged demand. As negotiations continue, the outcome could have lasting implications not just for EU-U.S. relations, but for the global energy market as a whole.