‘This is not a trade deal, it’s a hostage situation’ – EU–US talks

Campaigners at 350.org are raising concerns over ongoing EU–US trade deal negotiations. They’re warning that the proposed agreement risks locking Europe into decades of fossil fuel dependency. But at the same time it would expose households to rising energy costs and geopolitical pressure.

The warning comes amid escalating pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened to restrict gas supplies to Europe unless the deal is agreed without amendments.

Reports indicate the trade deal could include forced commitments for Europe to purchase up to $750bn in US energy, including oil and liquefied natural gas, at a time when governments should be accelerating the transition to clean, homegrown energy.

Campaigners say the proposal risks repeating the mistakes of Europe’s past reliance on Russian gas. That dependency triggered soaring prices and economic instability following the invasion of Ukraine.

Clémence Dubois, 350.org global campaign manager, said:

This is not a trade deal, it is a hostage situation that will leave European households paying the ransom for years to come.

Europe bled billions escaping Russian gas dependency. Now it is sprinting, eyes open, into the same trap. MEPs have a simple choice: ratify a deal that was never put to them democratically, or assert that parliament exists for exactly this moment.

Russian gas or American gas, the pipeline changes but the dependency doesn’t. Bills will still be high and gas-addicted countries vulnerable.

Renewable energy offers a clear alternative: wind and solar are already cheaper than gas in most of the world. They do not start wars, their prices do not spike when a shipping lane closes. The answer has been sitting here the whole time.

The only scarce resource in this crisis is courage.

Campaigners also raised alarm that the proposed trade deal could weaken key protections for EU citizens. These include environmental standards, food safety rules, and corporate accountability measures.

Dubois added:

The only way to ensure long-term energy security and stable bills is to end dependence on fossil fuels altogether. The technology is ready, the economics are clear, what’s missing is the political will.

350.org is calling on European lawmakers to reject any agreement that deepens fossil fuel reliance or undermines public protections, and instead prioritise investment in renewable energy and energy independence.

Featured image via the Canary