China considers more U.S. coal imports

China is considering buying more American coal as part of an effort to narrow its trade deficit with the U.S. Chinese officials are currently looking at boosting purchases from West Virginia in particular. China this month pledged to increase purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural goods as a way to reduce its $375 billion merchandise trade deficit and diffuse an escalating trade war between the world’s biggest economies. More imports by the Asian nation would be a boon for American coal-producing states including West Virginia that supported Donald Trump’s presidency on the back of his pledge to revive the ailing industry. The U.S. more than doubled coal exports to Asia in 2017, to 32.8 million tons, while total overseas shipments rose 61% year-over-year. India was the biggest importer of thermal coal, used in coal-fired power stations, according to EIA. Trump has promised to revive the U.S. coal industry by lifting restrictions on it. In February 2017, he signed legislation repealing a regulation meant to protect streams from the effects of coal mining. In October, his administration proposed the repeal of the Clean Power Act, which was designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generation.