USTR Poised to Tweak LNG Penalty Before China-Ship Rule Deadline

The Trump administration is close to relaxing certain restrictions for liquefied natural gas companies that are part of a sweeping policy aimed at curbing China’s maritime dominance, according to three people familiar with the plans.

The US Trade Representative policy — finalized in April and set to take effect on Oct. 14 — looked to revive the US shipbuilding industry as a way to combat China’s dominance in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. But American LNG producers say the new rule would counter President Donald Trump’s goal of shipping as much LNG as possible to the rest of the world ...