China Halts U.S. LNG Imports Amid Escalating Trade War, Cargoes Diverted to Europe

China has completely stopped importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States as trade tensions with Washington intensify, according to shipping data.

The last American LNG cargo bound for China arrived on February 6, when a shipment from Corpus Christi, Texas, docked at a terminal in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, data from commodities tracking firm Kpler revealed. Since then, Chinese buyers have steered clear of U.S. LNG, redirecting supplies to alternative markets such as Europe.

The disruption comes as the ongoing trade war has increased the cost and risk of bringing American LNG into China, the world’s second-largest economy and a major consumer of the fuel. Analysts say buyers are seeking more stable and affordable sources to meet the country’s massive energy demands.

The shift highlights broader challenges in the global LNG market as geopolitical tensions reshape traditional trade routes. The halt in U.S.-to-China LNG shipments is also likely to have knock-on effects on pricing and supply dynamics in Europe and other regions now absorbing the redirected cargoes.

The energy standoff adds another layer to the increasingly fraught relationship between Washington and Beijing, with industries from renewable energy to electric vehicle batteries already feeling the pressure from tit-for-tat tariffs and restrictions.