Trump threatens further tariffs on UK and EU
US president Donald Trump has reignited his global tariff programme amid tensions over Greenland.
He has threatened an additional 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. This levy will be applied on top of existing US import duties, which vary by product. Spirits tariffs are currently 10% for the UK and 15% for the EU.
The tariff increase is scheduled to come into force on 1 February, with the rate rising to 25% from 1 June.
Posting on TruthSocial, Trump said the tariff will be “due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland”.
Last year, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) estimated the 10% tariff on UK goods was costing the sector £4 million (US$5.4m) per week.
Meanwhile, the Toasts Not Tariffs coalition said that maintaining the taxes would have ‘severe’ consequences.
On TruthSocial, Trump said: “We have subsidised Denmark, and all of the countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration.”
He claimed that “world peace is at stake”, with China and Russia eyeing Greenland. According to Trump, Denmark is incapable of protecting Greenland, and only the US can do so.
Neither Russia nor China has publicly announced a desire to acquire Greenland.
He continued: “The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused…
“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, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades.”
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