The US and the EU have reached a trade deal a few hours ago, averting a trade war between allies (for now). A 15 percent tariff was as low as Trump is willing to go – Japan got a similarly “nice” treatment. In return for this leniency, the EU committed to buy more American weapons and another $US 750 billion worth of energy (or $1.14 trillion in Australian dollars).

We can be sure that the energy in reference would be overwhelmingly, if not entirely, fossil fuel. And $1.14 trillion is a lot – you could buy 11 billion barrels of crude oil at current price, or three-and-a-half years’ worth of import for the EU. Remember: this is additional purchase on top of the existing orders!

Trump is serious about his promise he would make America dominant in energy production and export. To do so, the Trump Administration is now trying to keep the rest of the world addicted to its fossil fuel. This would give the US leverage over its customers, and ensure handsome profits for American fossil fuel producers and investors – all at the expense of the rest of us, who will be left with the consequences of climate change.

This is a threat to our future. A collateral damage may well be Australia’s own fossil fuel industry, who will face greater competition from the unleashed American producers. A smart play for Australia, even if for purely self-interested reasons, would be to aggressively diversify towards renewables.

The United States is increasingly a disruptive, even (literally) toxic global actor. Australia should be quite wary of what Trump is selling.