Donald Trump, United States president, has announced plans to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on goods exported to the US from eight European countries, citing the unresolved Greenland saga.
The affected countries are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain, nations already dealing
with tariffs imposed by Trump in 2025.
Trump said the new tariff would apply to “all or any goods”
from the affected countries beginning from February 1.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said the tariffs
will increase to 25 percent in June 1 and the measures would remain until “such
time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”.
According to the BBC, the announcement is the latest
instance of Trump deploying tariffs as a foreign policy tool — a strategy his
critics have often described as “weaponising” trade.
Recently, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on countries
trading with Iran as part of a broader effort to pressure the Iranian regime
amid ongoing protests.
He has also previously credited tariffs with helping to end
conflicts abroad. In November, Trump said he had threatened India and Pakistan
with 350 percent tariffs, prompting both countries to return to negotiations.
Other examples cited include additional tariffs on Brazil
following the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and measures
imposed on Canada after Ontario’s premier aired anti-tariff s on television.
Reacting to the announcement, Ed Davey, leader of the UK
Liberal Democrats, criticised Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, over his “US
policy” in a post on X on Saturday.
“Starmer’s US policy lies in tatters, Trump is now punishing
the UK and Nato allies just for doing the right thing,” he wrote.
“Time for the PM to stand firm against the bully in the
White House, and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back
down from this reckless plan.”
In an earlier post, Davey also condemned Trump’s stance on
Greenland, describing it as reckless and warning that the UK’s response
mattered.
“Trump has said he wants Greenland, ‘whether they like it or
not’. It is totally unhinged behaviour but how we respond matters a lot. I’m
glad that Keir Starmer has signed a letter of support for Greenland but to
Donald Trump, it’s just a piece of paper,” he said.
WHY TRUMP WANTS GREENLAND
The BBC reported that while a possible purchase has been
floated, Trump said he intends to take control of the island “the easy way” or
“the hard way”.
His demands have been rejected by Greenland’s leaders and by
Denmark, a Nato member state of which Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory.
Greenland’s strategic position between North America and the
Arctic makes it significant for early warning systems against missile attacks
and for monitoring maritime activity in the region.
Trump has also warned of threats from rival powers, arguing
that “if we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland”.
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