Senator Ted Cruz (R), joined by Senator John Kennedy (R), sent a letter to senior Trump administration officials urging them to pressure the European Union to repeal the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR), warning that the rule threatens American energy producers, U.S. sovereignty, and transatlantic energy security.
The senators argue that the EUMR improperly seeks to regulate oil and gas production inside the United States and could harm U.S. energy exports to Europe.
"When fully phased in, the EUMR will set a new, yet-to-be-defined methane intensity standard for U.S. imports of oil and natural gas," the senators wrote. "This provision, if allowed to go into effect, would mean regulators in Paris, Berlin, and Brussels would tell operators in Midland and Pittsburgh how, when, and where to produce energy."
Cruz and Kennedy described the regulation as a breach of bilateral relations, particularly given Europe's reliance on U.S. liquefied natural gas following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They noted that American LNG exports have helped Europe avoid severe energy shortages.
"The insinuation that European countries could directly regulate American producers is a gross overstep," the senators wrote, adding that without U.S. LNG, Europe's dependence on Russian energy would increase, undermining European security.
The senators urged the Trump administration to use "all available legal, diplomatic, and economic tools" to ensure the regulation is repealed in full. They emphasized that while the EU may regulate its own energy production, extending those rules to U.S. producers violates America's sovereign right to regulate its energy sector through laws passed by Congress.
"We stand ready to work together with this administration to protect U.S. energy producers across the country," the senators concluded.
