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EU Trade Chief Urges Anti-Coercion Response to Trump's Greenland Tariff Threat

The chair of the European Parliament's trade committee is urging the European Commission to immediately trigger the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument. This comes after former US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on goods from several European countries, citing issues related to Greenland. Bernd Lange labeled the threat an "incredible" escalation in using tariffs as a political weapon and a breach of a 2025 trade deal. The European Parliament is set to discuss the crisis, with Lange suggesting a suspension of further cooperation with the US.

Key Points: EU Urged to Act After Trump's Greenland Tariff Threat

  • Trump threatens 10% tariffs on 8 EU nations
  • EU trade chief urges immediate anti-coercion response
  • Tariffs linked to US interest in Greenland
  • Action called a breach of 2025 trade deal
  • EU Parliament to discuss suspension of cooperation
2 min read

EU parliament trade chief urges anti-coercion response after Trump Greenland tariff threat

EU trade chair calls for anti-coercion response as Trump threatens tariffs on European nations over Greenland, escalating a long-standing dispute.

"I cannot imagine that we can continue with business as usual - Bernd Lange"

Brussels, Jan 18

Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, urged the European Commission to trigger the EU's anti-coercion instrument after US President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs on a group of European countries over Greenland.

"It is also now high time to use the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) ... and formulate a clear EU response," Lange said in a LinkedIn post, urging the Commission to start the ACI procedure immediately, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump said on Saturday that the country will impose 10-per cent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on February 1.

Lange called the threat "incredible" and "a new dimension" in the use of tariffs as a political weapon, adding that the EU could not "carry on with business as usual" under the circumstances.

Lange also said the US step amounted to another breach of a political EU-US tariff and trade deal agreed in Scotland in July 2025, and said the European Parliament would discuss the issue again with political groups next week.

"I cannot imagine that we can continue with business as usual, and I assume that we will suspend our further work," he said.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.

Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his interest in Greenland, from "buying" the island during his first presidential term, to the current employment of "a range of options" including "utilizing the US military" to seize the autonomous island. The Greenland crisis escalated after Trump recently intensified his bid to acquire the island.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Incredible! Tariffs over an entire island? 😲 This feels like something from a colonial era playbook, not 2025. The EU's response will be a test case for how democracies stand up to economic coercion. Hope they show a united front.
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Aman W
From an Indian perspective, this is a worrying precedent. If a major power can threaten tariffs to grab territory, what's stopping similar tactics elsewhere? Our foreign policy needs to be prepared for such unpredictable actors. Jai Hind.
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Sarah B
While Trump's methods are extreme, it does highlight the strategic importance of places like Greenland. The US base there is key for Arctic security. The EU's anti-coercion tool sounds good, but will it have any real teeth? I'm skeptical.
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Vikram M
The part about "utilizing the US military" to seize the island is shocking. This isn't trade, it's aggression. The international community must condemn this strongly. Respect for sovereignty is a basic principle.
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Karthik V
A bit of a respectful criticism for the EU here: they had a deal in July 2025 and it's already broken. Maybe their negotiation strategy needs a rethink? Strong words from Mr. Lange are fine, but Europe needs a concrete, united action plan, and fast.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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