US Tariffs Plans Over Greenland Dispute

Posting on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, US President, Donald Trump, said he would impose 10% tariffs on European nations, including the UK, until they acceded to his demands. The president wrote that “it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken”. This would include securing US control over Greenland and the Arctic, amid Russian and Chinese competition.

“Starting on February 1st, 2026,” he wrote, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands and Finland “will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America”.

“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer responded this morning to say that a trade war is in no party’s interest, and that the threats were “completely wrong”, while suggesting retaliatory tariffs may not be his first course of action. He reiterated the line of Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory, that it was for Greenlanders to decide what should happen to the island.

Responding to news that the US plans to introduce fresh 10% tariffs on UK goods, from next month, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

"New tariffs on goods exported to the US will be more bad news for UK exporters, already struggling with the tariffs levied last year.  

“We know trade is one way to boost the economy and the success of transatlantic trade depends on reducing, not raising, tariffs.  

“The Government must prioritise the implementation of the Economic Prosperity Deal and negotiate calmly to remove the threat of these new tariffs.”