U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 10% tariff on exports to the United States from eight European countries starting on the 1st of next month and raise it to 25% starting in June, targeting countries that oppose the U.S. intention to annex Greenland. European countries appear to be preparing a joint response.
On the 17th (local time), Trump said on his social media, Truth Social, regarding Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, "The countries playing this very dangerous game have created an unbearable and unsustainable level of risk," and conveyed his plan to impose a tariff.
These countries recently sent troops to Greenland under the pretext of "defense of key facilities" after the United States, saying it would purchase Greenland, even raised the possibility of military action.
That day, Trump said, "It is necessary to take strong measures so this potentially dangerous situation is brought to a rapid end beyond any doubt," adding, "Starting Feb. 1, 2026, all countries mentioned above will face a 10% tariff on all goods they export to the United States."
He continued, "On June 1, 2026, the tariff will be raised to 25%," and said, "This tariff will be imposed until an agreement is reached on the complete and comprehensive purchase of Greenland."
Under a trade agreement concluded last year, the United States imposes a 10% tariff on imports from the United Kingdom and 15% on the EU. The tariff Trump released that day is presumed to be in addition to those tariffs.
In response, the governments of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden strongly criticized Trump and expressed their intention to respond.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, "We cannot tolerate tariff threats." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted, "It is completely wrong to impose tariffs because NATO allies pursue collective security."
They plan to seek joint response measures, and EU ambassadors are said to be scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on the 18th.