The European Union has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, over their opposition to his plan to acquire Greenland. EU leaders have warned that such tariffs could undermine transatlantic relations and risk a “dangerous downward spiral”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa have expressed solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, emphasizing that dialogue is essential to resolve the issue.
Trump’s announcement to impose a 10% tariff on imports from these countries, effective February 1, has sparked widespread criticism from European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the threat as “unacceptable”, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called it “completely wrong” to target allies with trade measures. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has vowed that Europe will not be “blackmailed”.
The EU is considering countermeasures, including the possibility of freezing or scrapping the US-EU trade truce agreed last year. The bloc’s ambassadors are set to meet to discuss a coordinated response to Trump’s tariff threat.
