Donald Trump tariff threats danger ‘harmful downward spiral’, UK and allies say | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Donald Trump’s tariff threats danger a “dangerous downward spiral”, the UK and European allies have warned.

The US President has vowed to slap a ten% tariff on “any and all goods” despatched to America except he’s allowed to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Mr Trump, retaliating to eight nations sending troops to the Arctic island for an train, additionally warned the NATO allies they had been taking part in a “very dangerous game”.

EU ambassadors will meet in Brussels for emergency talks on Sunday night to debate the bloc’s response.

But the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland have issued a joint assertion on Sunday, declaring: “As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.

“The pre-coordinated Danish exercise Arctic Endurance conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”

The European Parliament has warned it should pause ratification of the US-EU commerce deal signed by Mr Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, final July in Scotland.

President Trump stated on Saturday that the UK might be charged a ten% tariff “on any and all goods” despatched to the US from February 1, elevated to 25% from June 1, till a deal is reached for Washington to buy Greenland from Denmark.

Earlier this week, the UK confirmed it had despatched a navy officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its navy presence within the Arctic and High North.

Downing Street stated they had been despatched at Denmark’s request to affix a reconnaissance group forward of a deliberate Arctic endurance train, however denied it amounted to a “deployment”.

Mr Trump stated the nations had been taking part in a “very dangerous game”.

He stated it was “time for Denmark to give back”, including: “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the plan to apply tariffs “completely wrong” and stated he could be “pursuing this directly” with the US administration.