ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the commercialization of gas trades which must remain the only desirable form in which gas is supplied. In Europe, there is a strong interest in placing negotiations for gas imports in larger trading contexts than gas contracts per se can embrace. International gas trade remains a commerce substantially limited to independent markets of the United States, Japan and Western Europe, each with its unique characteristics of energy supply and demand. The United States is the world’s largest gas market. The transportation network for the European gas import market is impressive. As in the United States, the members of the European Community are endowed with the infrastructure of overland pipelines and liquefied natural gas import terminals to support a varied and expanded import trade to supplement domestic natural gas supplies. The natural gas sales and purchase contract has unique features. The contract must be concerned with measurement of qualities.
