US export policy change said to 'help both sides'

Energy | Jiang Xueqing

Fast-rising production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States is prompting talk of changing the country's policy on oil and gas exports. Some bankers who specialize in energy finance contend that easing controls on exports of liquefied natural gas from the US to China will be economically and environmentally beneficial to both countries.

"Expedited approvals from agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will benefit LNG exports from the US to China, which is not on the list of free trade agreement countries. This is because LNG exports to countries on the non-FTA list require greater due diligence and approval processes as compared with those on the FTA list," said Paul Clifford, head of project finance in the Americas for Standard Chartered Plc.