Tariffs for 93 billion euros: Europe prepares response to US ultimatum on Greenland
The European Union in Brussels is considering imposing tariffs on 93 billion euros worth of US goods in response to Donald Trump’s threats to NATO allies over Greenland. It is also discussing restricting access to the EU market for American companies as a tool of pressure ahead of key talks.
This is reported by the Financial Times .
Journalists noted that the European Union is preparing a package of measures that should give European leaders additional leverage during their meetings with the US president at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
According to officials involved in preparing the decisions, Brussels is simultaneously trying to find a compromise that would avoid a deep rift within the Western military alliance.
Journalists reported that the tariff list was prepared last year but was suspended until February 6 to avoid a full-scale trade war. On Sunday, the 27 EU ambassadors discussed the list, along with an anti-coercion tool that could be used in response to the US president’s threat to impose tariffs.
France has called for the use of an anti-coercion instrument, approved in 2023 but not yet applied, which includes investment restrictions and the possibility of restricting the export of services, particularly by large US technology companies.
Paris and Berlin are coordinating a common position. A French ministry aide said the French and German finance ministers are due to meet in Berlin before traveling to Brussels for consultations with their European counterparts.
Journalists also noted that most EU member states support the idea of dialogue with Trump before moving to tough retaliatory measures. At the same time, the largest factions of the European Parliament announced the postponement of the vote on reducing EU tariffs on American goods as part of the trade agreement concluded last year.
According to media reports, Trump plans to hold private talks with European leaders in Davos, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as join broader consultations with Western countries.
Western national security advisers will also gather in Davos. The talks were originally scheduled to focus on Ukraine and peace initiatives to stop Russia’s invasion, but the agenda has been revised to include the situation around Greenland.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it would not comment on the composition of the participants and the topics of the meetings.
By the way, US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imports of goods from eight European countries because of their position on Greenland . The tariffs will be in effect until an agreement is reached on the full purchase of the island and will increase to 25% from June 1.
Recall, Trump declared the strategic importance of Greenland for the security of the United States. Earlier it became known that the goal of annexing Greenland to the United States has moved from rhetoric to official policy of the country, as the White House began implementing an official plan to purchase the Arctic island from Denmark .
At the same time, the Danish Prime Minister appealed to Trump to stop statements about the possible seizure of Greenland . She emphasized that talks about the annexation of Greenland are baseless. As is known, against the background of statements by US President Donald Trump about the seizure of Greenland, the Danish authorities are sending military equipment and defense forces to the island .
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