US-China phase-1 deal brings limited cheer for lng shipping.

With 25 percent tariff on LNG still in play, the Phase-1 deal between the US and China is not expected to bring any significant change in the LNG trade between the two countries. However, with China requiring additional LNG supplies in the coming years, the US still has the opportunity to become an important supplier for the soon-to-be world's largest LNG market. The US and China recently announced a Phase-1 deal to reduce the trade tensions between the two countries, wherein the latter pledged to purchase $200 billion worth of US goods, which includes $52 billion of energy products such as coal, crude oil, refined products and LNG.

The de-escalation...