Europe vows ‘firm’ response to new Trump tariffs over Greenland

The EU vowed a “firm” response to new tariffs imposed on member states by U.S. President Donald Trump, as the White House stepped up its campaign to take control of Greenland.

Trump’s imposition of a 10 percent tariff on NATO allies that have opposed his move against Greenland — including France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the U.K., Norway, Sweden and Finland — reopens a transatlantic trade rift that capitals thought had been averted by a deal signed last year.

European Council President António Costa criticized Trump’s tactics as a threat to “prosperity,” saying “we must open markets, not close them. We must create zones of economic integration, not increase tariffs.”

“The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law, wherever it may be, and of course, starting within the territory of the European Union’s member states,” Costa said, speaking after the signing of a landmark trade agreement between the EU and South American nations in Paraguay on Saturday.

“I am coordinating a joint response from the European Union’s member states on this issue,” Costa added.

Trump announced the new tariffs in a post on his Truth Social site Saturday, claiming the countries targeted had sent military personnel to Greenland in recent days “for purposes unknown.” A small deployment of NATO troops landed in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Thursday as part of a reconnaissance and support mission.

“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these countries that have put so much at risk,” Trump said, insisting Washington would complete its acquisition of Greenland. The 10 percent tariff will be increased to 25 percent on June 1, and will be enforced “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump said.

“The president’s statement comes as a surprise,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a statement. “The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the President refers, is to enhance security in the Arctic,” he said.

“We agree with the U.S. that we need to do more since the Arctic is no longer a low tension area. That’s exactly why we and NATO partners are stepping up in full transparency with our American allies,” Rasmussen said.

“We are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the issue,” he added.

An extraordinary meeting of ambassadors to assess the situation and plan a response has been called for Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed, and countries’ national security advisers have already been in direct contact.

Costa, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and their top advisers, are in Paraguay for Saturday’s signing of the trade deal with Mercosur countries. The Mercosur agreement has taken more than a quarter of a century to conclude and is being presented as a major effort to diversify trade ties in the context of Trump’s push against free commerce.

Von der Leyen moved to defend the deployment of European military personnel, saying “the pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone.”

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.

“China and Russia must be having a field day,”  EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X. “They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies. If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO,” she said.

“Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity,” Kallas said.

The EU leadership is now actively reaching out to European capitals regarding Trump’s new tariffs, two officials confirmed.

French President Emmanuel Macron compared support for Greenland to the defense of Ukraine and said Paris would stand behind “the sovereignty and independence” of its partners.

“No intimidation or threats will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations,” Macron said in a post on X.

“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner,” Macron said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hit out at the new tariffs as “completely wrong” and said he would raise the matter with the White House.

Reacting to the new U.S. tariffs, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement that European countries “will not let ourselves be blackmailed. … This is an EU issue that affects many more countries than those now being singled out. Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom for a coordinated response.”

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the EU “supports Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

“The measures against NATO allies announced today will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic,” Metsolo said in a post on X. “They risk the opposite, emboldening our joint enemies and those who wish to destroy our common values and way of life.”

“Greenland and Denmark have both made clear: Greenland is not for sale and its sovereignty and territorial integrity needs to be respected. No threat of tariffs can or will change that fact,” she said.

Felicia Schwartz contributed reporting.