Germany Trump announcement - EU leaders warn of "downward spiral"
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa warn of the consequences of US President Donald Trump's tariff threat. "Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," they both said on social media. "Europe will continue to act in a united and coordinated manner and will work to preserve its sovereignty," they continued.
18.01.2026, 00:53
SDA
In an unprecedented move early on Saturday evening, Trump announced additional tariffs against Germany and seven other European countries - all of them NATO countries - from February, citing the conflict over Greenland. The staggered tariffs are to apply until an agreement is reached on the complete purchase of the Arctic island, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The US President has repeatedly made it clear that America wants to acquire the island - something that the European NATO partners vehemently oppose. Greenland is largely autonomous and is part of the territory of Nato member Denmark.
Trump also takes offense at the fact that Germany and other European NATO states recently sent soldiers to the island for a fact-finding mission ahead of a military exercise.
The joint statement by the EU leaders states that the exercise is in line with the need to strengthen security in the Arctic and does not pose a threat to anyone. Dialogue remains crucial and the EU is determined to build on the process started between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US. Following talks between representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the US on Wednesday, the US side said it had agreed to set up a working group to hold technical talks on the purchase of Greenland.
EU chief diplomat: Russia and China are pleased
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas also reacted to Trump's announcement with criticism and incomprehension. China and Russia are laughing up their sleeves, Kallas said on social media. "They are the ones who benefit from the divisions among allies."
If Greenland's security was at risk, this could be tackled within NATO. "Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermining our common prosperity," wrote the Estonian politician. Furthermore, the dispute should not distract from the core task of ending the war in Ukraine.
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed similar sentiments. The measures announced by Trump risked encouraging common enemies. Greenland is not for sale, and tariffs would not change that.
Political groups in the EU Parliament no longer want the customs deal
The EU had actually agreed a deal with the USA last year in the customs conflict, which the EU Parliament still has to approve. According to the deal, the US tariff of 15 percent is to apply to most European products. Tariffs on US industrial goods, on the other hand, are to be completely abolished and barriers to the import of certain foodstuffs are to be dropped.
The leader of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, announced that his group was in favor of the tariff deal, but that approval was not possible at the present time in view of Trump's threats. "The zero percent tariffs on US products must be suspended", said the CSU politician.
The EPP is the largest political group in the European Parliament. The leaders of the Socialists and Democrats Group and the liberal Renew Group have also rejected the agreement with the United States and posted corresponding statements on X. It now seems unlikely that the tariff deal will be approved in next week's vote in the EU Parliament.
Trump announced the additional tariffs on Saturday with reference to the Greenland conflict. Punitive tariffs of 10 percent are to apply from February 1 and tariffs of 25 percent from June 1 - on all goods sent to the USA - until an agreement on the purchase of Greenland is reached.
