EU convenes emergency meeting after Trump imposes 10% tariffs on eight European nations supporting Greenland.
EU Considers Retaliation Against US Tariffs
The European Union may respond to US tariffs with economic sanctions, including trade tariffs and threats to eliminate American military bases on European soil, such as the one in Ramstein, Germany. “The Economist” notes that it would be difficult for the US to move its military forces to Africa and the Middle East without access to European bases.
European Parliament Considers Suspending US Trade Deal
The leaders of three pro-European factions, including the two largest, announced that the European Parliament will suspend ratification of the targeted agreement with the US. The EU-US agreement, negotiated last year, had averted a trade war by applying a 15% rate to most European products while the Community agreed to eliminate tariffs on certain American industrial goods and agricultural products.
European Leaders Condemn Trump’s Threats
Manfred Weber, head of the center-right, stated: “The European People’s Party supports the agreement, but in light of Donald Trump’s threats, approval is currently not possible.” Iratxe Garcia Perez, head of the center-left, added: “In the face of the US president’s imperialist threats, Parliament must immediately suspend work on the trade agreement.” Valérie Hayer, liberal leader, commented: “Donald Trump’s threats are unacceptable. It is time for the Union to move from trust to deterrence.”
US Threatens 10% Tariffs on Eight Countries
Donald Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on countries that support Greenland and send troops there: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, and the Netherlands. The decision is set to take effect February 1, with the rate increasing to 25% from June 1.
Transatlantic Relations Face New Challenge
The American president’s threats are another shock to transatlantic relations. “Tariffs would weaken mutual relations and threaten to enter a dangerous slippery slope,” wrote European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They emphasized that Denmark-led military exercises in Greenland with allies were a response to the need to strengthen security in the Arctic and not a threat.
EU Diplomat Warns of Consequences
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that if Greenland’s security is threatened, NATO should address the issue. She also urged not to allow divisions among allies to distract from the main task of helping end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kallas noted that China and Russia would benefit from divisions among allies, adding that tariffs threaten to impoverish both Europe and the United States.