A trade war looms large over the Arctic as Donald Trump threatens sweeping tariffs on European imports tied to the Greenland row. The European Union’s trade heavyweight, Bernd Lange, is pushing hard for the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument to slap back at the US provocation.
Announcing the duties via social media on Saturday, Trump aims 10% levies at products from eight nations: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland. Effective February 1, the tariffs stem from what he calls unresolved Greenland issues.
Lange, steering the European Parliament’s trade committee, fired off a LinkedIn missive demanding immediate action. He decried the move as a ‘new and dangerous’ ploy to turn tariffs into political leverage, insisting the EU must respond decisively now.
The saga traces to Trump’s persistent Greenland ambitions. Once proposing a purchase during his initial presidency, he’s now exploring forceful acquisitions, including military involvement. Tensions spiked recently, deepening the crisis around the Danish autonomous region with its US airbase.
Beyond the immediate threat, Lange highlighted a breach of the fresh EU-US trade pact from Scotland in July 2025. Parliament insiders say next week’s cross-party talks will likely grind to a halt amid the uproar. ‘Normal operations are off the table,’ Lange declared, foreshadowing stalled negotiations.
Europe’s united front against coercion marks a pivotal shift. With strategic Arctic stakes and billions in trade at risk, the EU’s toolkit activation could redefine global commerce rules, forcing Washington to rethink its aggressive gambit.
