The EU has warned that its retaliatory tariffs could be implemented “very quickly” after President Trump doubled down on his desire to annex Greenland,
Cityam reports.
The EU’s economic commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, said the EU was prepared to respond to US tariff threats, dialling up the risk of an extraordinary clash between the world’s largest economy and largest economic bloc.
He told the Financial Times in Davos that nations were still working to find a “constructive solution” but that counter-tariffs could be applied “very quickly”.
In an event on Wednesday morning, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte attempted to assure business chiefs and strategists that he was helping to ease tensions between the US and the EU “behind the scenes”.
He also said global powers were “dropping the ball” on threats from Russia and support for Ukraine amidst rising tensions around Greenland’s sovereignty.
But on Tuesday night, Trump held firm on his stated ambition to take over Greenland, which is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark.
He warned that European leaders would “have to find out” to see how far he would be willing to go, keeping the possibility of military action open.
The US president also emphasised there was “no going back” on his plan to take over Greenland, later adding that Nato countries would be “very happy” with proposed solutions.
“I know we’ll come to [Nato’s] rescue, but I just really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours,” he also said.
