BY OUR BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT
GERMANY’S Green Party has urged the European Union to “fire back” with a massive wave of retaliatory tariffs after Donald Trump threatened to slap duties on European goods in a bizarre row over Greenland.
The eco-party, part of Germany’s ruling coalition, is demanding the EU take a “gloves off” approach to the President-elect, who has vowed to punish nations that block his ambition to buy the Arctic territory from Denmark.
Trump has warned he will impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries—including Germany and the UK—from February 1, rising to 25% by June, unless a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase” of the island.
In a fiery response, German Green leaders have told Brussels that Europe must not be “blackmailed” by the incoming US administration.
They are calling for immediate EU-wide counter-tariffs on iconic American exports if Trump follows through on his threat.
”Europe is not a discount store, and Greenland is not for sale,” one senior Green source told The Sun. “If Mr. Trump wants a trade war, he will find that the EU knows how to fight back.”
The row erupted after Trump accused European allies of “subsidising” their economies while refusing to help the US secure Greenland for “national security” reasons.
He has even accused countries sending troops to the region of playing a “very dangerous game.”
The Great Greenland Land Grab
The dispute stems from Donald Trump’s long-standing obsession with acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.
While the island is strategically vital for Arctic security and mineral resources, both Copenhagen and the Greenlandic government have repeatedly told him: “No deal.”
The Tariff Trap: Trump’s planned duties target the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
The German Stance: While Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for “coordinated dialogue,” the Greens—who hold the Foreign Ministry—are pushing for a much harder line to protect European sovereignty.
The “Golden Dome”: Trump claims he needs the island to build a “Golden Dome” missile defence system to protect the West from Russia and China.
