Donald Trump has set out his plan to impose rising tariffs on eight European countries until the US is allowed to purchase Greenland. The move has received backlash, with Sir Keir Starmer calling it “completely wrong”. Follow the latest.
Saturday 17 January 2026 20:25, UK
European Union ambassadors have been summoned for an emergency meeting in Brussels.
It comes as European countries discuss how to respond to Donald Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland.
Three EU diplomats have told Reuters that the talks will take place tomorrow.
The president of the German auto industry association VDA is the latest to respond to Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland.
“The costs of these additional tariffs would be enormous for German and European industry, especially in these already challenging times,” Hildegard Mueller has said.
“What is crucial now is a smart, strategic response from Brussels that is coordinated with the countries affected.”
Last month, a study seen by Reuters found that German car exports to the US had slumped by almost 14% in the first three quarters of 2025, making it the hardest-hit branch of German industry in Trump’s trade war.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says territorial integrity and sovereignty are “fundamental principles” of international law.
“They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole,” she wrote in a social media post.
Von der Leyen says the EU stands in “full solidarity” with Denmark and the people of Greenland.
“Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US,” she adds.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.
“Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”
The chair of the Commons business and trade committee has accused Donald Trump of setting a “dangerous precedent” with tariffs.
“This isn’t trade policy. It’s pressure politics,” Liam Byrne wrote on social media.
“Using tariffs to punish allies for lawful security decisions sets a dangerous precedent.
“Britain must now stand with its allies to force a rethink – calmly, collectively – but with consequences.”
Sir Keir Starmer has responded after Donald Trump set out how he plans to impose tariffs on eight European countries – including the UK – over Greenland.
“Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” Starmer says.
“We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of NATO and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.”
He goes on to condemn Trump’s move as being “completely wrong”.
“We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”
We’re now hearing from Mikkel Runge Olesen, Senior Researcher at Danish Institute for International Studies.
He tells our presenter Jonathan Samuels that the strategy of sending European forces to Greenland “appears to be working”.
“Donald Trump has been threatening military invasion, now he shifts to tariffs,” he says.
“Why does he do that? That’s because the steps taken by the European countries appear to be working.”
Olesen also says that Trump’s argument of needing Greenland for security “makes no sense”.
“Trump says he needs ownership of Greenland in order to protect Greenland,” he adds.
“The only reason that it’s a problem is because he doesn’t want to protect Greenland unless he owns it.
“It’s kind of circular and doesn’t make much sense.”
Watch the full interview…
French President Emmanuel Macron has hit back at Donald Trump over his tariff threat.
“France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe as elsewhere,” he says in a post on social media.
“This guides our choices. It underpins our attachment to the United Nations and to our Charter.”
Macron says “it is on this basis that we support and will continue to support Ukraine”.
He continues: “It is also on this basis that we have decided to join the exercise decided by Denmark in Greenland. We stand by this decision. Especially because it concerns security in the Arctic and at the frontiers of our Europe.”
Macron says European leaders won’t be influenced by intimidation or threat.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context, he adds.
“Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed. We will know how to uphold European sovereignty.
“It is in this spirit that I will speak with our European partners.”
Our US correspondent David Blevins says Donald Trump’s latest move is “extraordinary” considering he was threatening tariffs on countries trading with Iran just a few days ago.
“In the context of NATO, it is an entirely different thing to threaten to impose tariffs on some of your closest allies,” he says.
“But president Trump has clearly been irked by a number of things, not least the fact that the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland came here to Washington this week and refused to buckle.”
Blevins explains that Trump seems “determined to press ahead” with his plan for Greenland, regardless of how it plays out across the European Union and the UK.
“The administration has always argued that he has the authority under an emergency power if it’s to do with national security,” he adds.
“But think carefully about that, because you’ve got to ask yourself the question, is a desire to seize territory that doesn’t belong to the US a matter of national security?
“It’s interesting timing, given that the Supreme Court is about to issue its judgment on the issue.”
Watch his analysis…
Thousands of people have joined a “hands off Greenland” protest in Denmark today after Donald Trump’s latest threats to acquire the territory.
Crowds waved flags of the Danish island and held signs with messages saying “make America go away!”
We can bring you more political reaction now to Donald Trump’s tariff threat.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has posted on social media saying the tariffs “will hurt us”.
“If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia,” he says.
‘Trump is now punishing the UK’
Meanwhile, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, says Starmer’s US policy “lies in tatters”.
“Trump is now punishing the UK and NATO allies just for doing the right thing,” he says.
Those comments come after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled Trump’s plan a “terrible idea”, adding that the US president is “completely wrong” (see 17.33 post).
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free