In a move that stunned traders, analysts and policymakers alike, China has just announced a complete halt on all liquefied natural gas imports from the United States. A decision made abruptly with no prior indication, no phased reduction and no explanation beyond a terse statement from Beijing.
One moment American LNG tankers were in route across the Pacific. The next they were stranded, contracts frozen and billions of dollars now hang in limbo. This isn’t just another trade dispute. This is a deliberate geopolitical strike, one that could reshape the global energy balance, upend critical supply chains and leave US exporters bleeding….
While Washington reels from China’s sudden LNG embargo, Beijing has already made its next move, a quiet but powerful pivot across the globe. In a shift that caught many Western observers off-guard. China has begun rerouting LNG cargoes originally meant for East Asia straight into Europe’s energy-hungry markets. The message is clear: If the US wants to weaponise trade, China will weaponise its energy strategy.
The Chinese had already stopped ordering LNG from USA several weeks ago. And last month, they concluded a new deal with Australian suppliers.
What’s becoming clear about this trade war is that China has gamed it out. They thought ahead, having learned lessons during the first Trump administration: they were ready. They’ve massively reduced their vulnerabilities and carefully examined America’s weaknesses, and now they’re hitting them. Hard.
This realigns American allies in Europe and Australia more towards China, it hurts the US, and it highlights the benefits of doing business with China.
