The European Council is set to hold an emergency meeting this week to address President Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs on eight EU countries. Leaders are expected to convene in person before the end of the week to formulate a unified response before the tariffs officially take effect on February 1.
President Trump announced a 10% tariff on products originating from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. These nations are all members of NATO and have historically been close allies of the United States. The decision by Trump followed their refusal to commit more than a limited number of troops to a joint mission in Greenland.
The eight affected countries had previously stated that their limited troop deployment was intended to enhance security within the Arctic region. However, President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived optics of this decision and responded by implementing tariffs.
Leaders Discuss Potential Retaliation and Anti-Coercion Measures
EU ambassadors met on Sunday evening in Brussels to prepare for the upcoming leaders' summit. One of the options being actively considered is the activation of a €93 billion ($108 billion) retaliation plan. This package had been approved in the previous year but was put on hold when President Trump agreed to a trade pact with the EU.
However, the status of that trade pact is now uncertain. EU lawmakers have indicated that they will not proceed with it while the threat of tariffs remains.
Discussions are also underway regarding the use of a legal instrument known as the anti-coercion instrument. This mechanism empowers the EU to retaliate against countries that employ economic coercion. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly raised this option again during the weekend meeting. France had previously been hesitant to utilize this tool when President Trump threatened further retaliation. The current circumstances, however, appear to have shifted this stance.
Following the ambassadorial meeting on Sunday, European Council President Antonio Costa posted on social media, affirming the bloc's continued support for Denmark and Greenland. He stated that President Trump's tariffs constitute a violation of the EU-US trade agreement.
Growing Anger and Calls for a Firm Response
Public sentiment across Europe is reportedly growing increasingly agitated. Protests have taken place in Denmark over the weekend, with participants expressing strong opposition to any perceived US interference in Greenland. The pressure is mounting across the continent for a decisive and robust response to the tariffs.
A German military unit that was dispatched to Greenland on Friday had reportedly departed by Sunday, according to reports from Bild newspaper. The duration of their mission was notably brief, lasting only 44 hours. Despite this, President Trump proceeded with his tariff announcement. This course of action has drawn criticism, with Republican Senator Rand Paul stating on NBC’s Meet the Press, "There’s no emergency with Greenland. That’s ridiculous."
The eight countries targeted by the tariffs issued a joint statement on Sunday. They emphasized that the Greenland mission was a necessary measure to bolster Arctic security and cautioned that President Trump's tariffs "risk a dangerous downward spiral."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that her government is engaged in "intensive dialogue" with its EU allies. She stressed the importance of Europe presenting a united front at this juncture, stating, "It’s more important than ever for Europe to stand firm."
Scott Lincicome, a trade analyst at the Cato Institute, offered a critical perspective, remarking, "This isn’t Iran we’re talking about, it’s Denmark. This move will anger a lot of folks."
Within the United States, the reaction has also been critical. Senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen issued a joint appeal to President Trump, urging him to "turn off the threats and turn on diplomacy."
Furthermore, the co-chairs of the Senate NATO group issued a warning, stating, "Continuing down this path is bad for America, bad for American businesses and bad for America’s allies."