Europe is reportedly preparing countermeasures after US President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on countries opposing his push for control over Greenland. Germany and France said the bloc would respond in unity, warning it would not accept economic “blackmail”
Europe is drawing up a coordinated response to what it calls US President Donald Trump’s tariff “blackmail” after he threatened to impose
trade penalties on countries opposing his push for control over Greenland, Germany’s vice chancellor said on Monday.
“We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” Lars Klingbeil told reporters at a press conference in Berlin alongside French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure. “Europe will respond with a united, clear response, and we are now preparing countermeasures together with our European partners,” he added.
Trump said on Saturday he would slap tariffs of up to 25 percent on several European countries—including Denmark, which administers autonomous
Greenland—unless the territory is handed over to the United States.
Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden issued a joint statement over the weekend rejecting the threat.
Three-part European response
Klingbeil outlined three possible elements of Europe’s response. First, he said the existing tariff arrangement with the United States could be suspended. Second, European tariffs on US imports—currently paused untl early February—could be reinstated. Third, the European Union should consider deploying instruments from its toolbox designed to counter “economic blackmail.”
Lescure echoed Klingbeil’s assessment, also describing Trump’s move as “blackmail.”
“Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable,” the French minister said.
“We Europeans must remain united and coordinated in our response and, above all, be prepared to make full use of the instruments” available to the European Union, he added. “We are determined to defend our sovereignty,” he continued.
Lescure said G7 finance ministers would meet in the coming days to discuss urgent issues, including Greenland. France currently holds the rotating chair of the group, of which the United States is also a member.
Klingbeil said Europe’s patience was wearing thin in the face of repeated threats from Washington.
“The limit has been reached,” he said, adding that “we are constantly experiencing a new confrontation that President Trump is seeking.”
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