politics
January 18, 2026
Europe responds to tariff war launched by Trump over Greenland: What we know so far
The EU has vowed a coordinated response to the US president’s threat to penalize opposition to the sale of Greenland
TL;DR
- US President Donald Trump has imposed 10% tariffs on eight European NATO members opposing his plan to acquire Greenland.
- The tariffs, set to increase to 25% in June, target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.
- Danish and Greenlandic authorities have rejected the prospect of selling Greenland, with thousands protesting against US annexation plans.
- European leaders, including the Prime Ministers of Sweden and the UK, and the President of France, have strongly criticized the tariffs, promising a joint response.
- EU leaders have reaffirmed solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, stating that territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles.
- Germany, France, and the Netherlands are identified as potentially suffering the most economically due to their high export values to the US.
- The UK's economy could be significantly impacted, with warnings of a potential return to recession if trade uncertainty and higher tariffs persist.
- The US is Britain's largest export market, with billions of dollars worth of goods like machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals at risk.
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