Canada’s federal government is slashing taxes on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects in an attempt to incentivize the industry.

The tax breaks would mostly help British Columbia, where a dozen LNG export terminals have been proposed but no investment decisions have been finalized, according to the Vancouver Sun.

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“Through our ambitious trade agenda, we are opening new markets for Canadian businesses and developing the infrastructure to transport Canadian products to new markets, which is essential for Canada’s future prosperity and security,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a Thursday statement.

The tax incentives could ramp up competition with the United States, where government leaders are trying to encourage LNG exports by improving the process for obtaining export permits. The contiguous states in the U.S. also do not have any active gas export terminals, though some are under construction and more have been proposed.

The new Canadian policy cuts taxes for natural gas liquefaction equipment and the buildings that house the systems. They will last until 2024 and provide about C$50 million over the next five years to the budding industry.

“With oil prices where they are — and all the global uncertainty — the change the federal government has made is going to be a big help in making sure LNG companies get to that final investment decision,” British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said, according to the Sun.

“We have to be more competitive today than we had to be six months ago.”

Clark said Canadian leaders want the country’s gas to be more competitive with the United States and Australia, which exports the most gas of any country in the world.