President Donald Trump Threatens New Tariffs On U.S. Allies Over Greenland
On Saturday, Jan. 17, President Donald Trump announced on social media that he plans for the U.S. government to impose new 10 percent tariffs on eight countries that have expressed opposition to a U.S. purchase of Greenland. While the White House has not issued a formal proclamation — or any additional information — regarding the tariffs, the president said the penalties would take effect on Feb. 1, 2026.
President Trump also suggested the tariffs would increase to 25 percent on June 1, 2026 and would stay in place until the U.S. government is able to purchase Greenland.
The eight countries, which are all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (UK). As the BBC reported, those countries issued a joint response on Sunday. While arguing “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the leaders of the nations said they “stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.” That statement also stressed that the countries are “committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.”
Meanwhile, U.S. policymakers, including some from President Trump’s own party, have expressed opposition to the new tariffs. According to The Hill, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, “The fact that a small handful of ‘advisors’ are actively pushing for coercive action to seize territory of an ally is beyond stupid. It hurts the legacy of President Trump and undercuts all the work he has done to strengthen the NATO alliance over the years.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called the tariffs “unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake.”
Please note: the Metals Service Center Institute is reporting these statements and developments for its member companies’ information only. The organization has not taken a position on the tariffs. Stay tuned to Connecting the Dots as this story develops.