President Donald Trump said Saturday he plans to impose a new 10% tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries until, he wrote, “a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
Trump said the tariffs would apply to Denmark as well as Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. He added that the duties would rise to 25% on June 1 if no agreement is reached.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that Greenland has become a focal point of geopolitical competition, writing that “China and Russia want Greenland,” and claiming Denmark cannot stop them. He also criticized joint security exercises involving Denmark and European allies in and around Greenland, calling the activity a “very dangerous situation” and urging what he described as “strong measures” to end it quickly.
On Sunday, leaders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom pushed back in a joint statement, warning that the tariff threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” They said they would remain “united and coordinated” in their response and emphasized their commitment to sovereignty.
The leaders also rejected Trump’s characterization of the military exercises, saying they “pose no threat to anyone,” and framed the activity as part of NATO’s efforts to bolster Arctic security.
Trump’s move intensifies tensions between the U.S. and several of its closest European partners. Any sustained clash, particularly one involving trade and Arctic security, could strain long-standing cooperation under NATO.
It was not immediately clear how the new tariffs would interact with existing trade arrangements. The U.S. already has a framework agreement with the European Union that caps tariffs at 15%, and a separate agreement with the United Kingdom that caps tariffs on imports at 10%. Trump’s announcement did not specify whether the new measures would replace those terms or apply on top of them.
The E.U. is America’s largest trading partner and its largest source of imports. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa said the bloc “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” warning that new tariffs would further damage transatlantic ties and insisting Europe would remain united in defending its sovereignty.
Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament’s international trade committee, called the tariffs “unbelievable” and said he would push to pause work on implementing the U.S.-E.U. trade deal “until U.S. ends its threats.” He also urged the E.U. to consider deploying its Anti-Coercion Instrument, sometimes referred to as the bloc’s “trade bazooka.”
Manfred Weber, leader of the largest party in the European Parliament, said that given Trump’s Greenland threats, approval of the E.U.’s trade deal with the U.S. “must be put on hold.”
In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the approach, saying, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” and vowed to raise the issue directly with the Trump administration.
Denmark said it was caught off guard by the announcement. In an email, the Danish foreign ministry said it agreed the Arctic is no longer a low-tension region and described its expanded security efforts with NATO partners as transparent and coordinated with the U.S. The ministry said Denmark was in close contact with the European Commission and other partners.
Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, rejected the tariff pressure in a statement: “We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” adding that “only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.” Germany’s foreign ministry said it was working with other E.U. member states on a coordinated response, while French President Emmanuel Macron said “no intimidation nor threat will influence us,” calling tariff threats unacceptable.
The backdrop includes heightened military coordination in Greenland. European troops began arriving on the island last week, and Sweden said it sent military officers at Denmark’s request to support planning for a joint exercise dubbed “Operation Arctic Endurance.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Trump’s desire to “conquer” Greenland was clear, and that Denmark had told Washington it was “not in the interest of the kingdom.”
Trump’s tariff threat also comes as his administration faces persistent cost-of-living pressures at home. The White House has previously rolled back some food tariffs, and Trump has floated other consumer-focused measures, including a 10% cap on credit card interest rates and steps aimed at lowering mortgage rates.
Economists and trade experts have long warned that higher tariffs can drive up consumer prices. New duties on European imports could raise costs for goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to aircraft parts. Germany, one of the countries named, is a major source of industrial and pharmaceutical imports to the U.S.
In Britain, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said on social media that Trump was “completely wrong” to threaten tariffs on the U.K. over Greenland, warning that people in both the U.K. and U.S. would face higher costs. Sky News reported the U.K. had sent one military officer to Greenland as of Saturday.
In Washington, reaction from lawmakers was mixed. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on Fox News that Greenland is “vital” to U.S. national security and suggested acquiring it from Denmark may be the best option. Others condemned the tariff threat. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, called the tariffs “unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake,” while Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said punishing allies for limited training deployments is “bad for America” and U.S. businesses. Tillis later joined Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in a bipartisan statement warning the rhetoric benefits adversaries who want NATO divided and would likely raise prices for families and businesses.
It remains unclear what legal authority would be used to impose the new tariffs. Current tariffs on the U.K. and E.U. have been applied using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether that law authorizes Trump’s country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs.
