Starmer condemns Trump's Greenland tariff threat as 'completely wrong'

"The intervention follows a statement by Donald Trump, who said the United States would introduce a 10 per cent tariff on goods from the UK and seven European countries from 1 February. The levies would rise to 25 per cent on 1 June unless a deal was reached to allow the US to purchase Greenland. Trump said the tariffs would apply to Nato members, including the UK, France and Germany, that have deployed troops to the Arctic territory amid rising geopolitical tensions."

""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," he said. "Arctic security matters for the whole of Nato, and allies should be working together to address the growing threat from Russia." Starmer added: "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.""

"Opposition leaders across Westminster echoed the criticism, warning the move would damage British businesses and further strain transatlantic relations. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, said the threat was misguided. "President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland," she said. "These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland.""

The United States announced plans for a 10 per cent tariff on goods from the UK and seven European countries from 1 February, rising to 25 per cent on 1 June unless a deal allowed the US to purchase Greenland. The tariffs were described as targeting NATO members that have deployed troops to the Arctic amid rising geopolitical tensions. The UK insisted Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that its future belongs to Greenlanders and Danes. UK leaders warned that tariffs on allies would harm businesses, strain transatlantic relations, and undermine collective NATO security efforts against Russia.

Read at Business Matters