Overview
- The White House announced a 10% surcharge on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1, rising to 25% on June 1.
- President Trump says the duties will remain until an agreement is signed for a complete U.S. acquisition of Greenland, framing the move as a national‑security necessity.
- EU institutions and national leaders condemned the move as unacceptable, with EU ambassadors holding an emergency meeting in Brussels and capitals coordinating potential countermeasures.
- Officials signaled possible use of the EU’s anti‑coercion instrument and warned the step could jeopardize the 2025 U.S.–EU trade deal, while U.S. legal experts note court scrutiny of the emergency powers used for tariffs.
- Thousands protested in Nuuk and Danish cities against any transfer of Greenland, as several European countries sent small reconnaissance detachments to the island under Denmark’s Arctic Endurance exercise.