Trump slaps 10% tariff on 8 European nations for opposing Greenland plan
‘Levy to be raised to 25% in June’
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would charge a 10 per cent import tax starting in February on goods from eight European nations because of their opposition to American control of Greenland.
He said in a social media post that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff and that it would climb to 25 per cent on June 1 if a deal is not in place for “the complete and total purchase of Greenland” by the US.
The threat of tariffs was a drastic and potentially dangerous escalation of a showdown between Trump and NATO allies, further straining an alliance that dates to 1949 and provides a collective degree of security to Europe and North America. The Republican president has repeatedly tried to use trade penalties to bend allies and rivals alike to his will, generating investment commitments from some nations and pushback from others such as China, Brazil and India.
It was unclear how Trump could impose the tariffs under US law, though he could cite economic emergency powers that are currently subject to a US Supreme Court challenge. Trump said in his Truth Social post that his tariffs were retaliation for recent trips to Greenland by representatives from Britain, the Netherlands and Finland and for general opposition to his efforts to purchase the semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
He has Greenland is essential for the “Golden Dome” missile defence system for the US, and has argued that Russia and China might try to take over the island.
Weighing response, says EU summit chair
European Council President Antonio Costa on Saturday said the EU was very firm in defending international law, in response to a question about new tariff threats from Trump, adding he was coordinating an EU response on the issue.
"What we can say is that the EU will always be very firm in defending international law, wherever it may be, which of course begins within the territory of the member states of the EU," Costa said during a press conference following the union's signing of a free trade agreement with Mercosur and just after Trump's vow to hit European allies with tariffs for opposing his over desire to take over Greenland.
