EU Prepared to Respond to Trump's Greenland Tariff Threats

From 55m ago Should Trump impose tariffs, EU 'has tools at disposal' to respond to 'do everything necessary' to protect interests, bloc says But the EU’s Gill adds that “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests.” But then he repeats the earlier line that “our priority is to engage, not escalate,” and that the EU’s engagement with the US “is continuing at all levels.” But he says: “Sometimes the most responsible form of leadership is restraint.” He says he is not aware of plans for a Trump – von der Leyen meeting, but notes they’ll both be in Davos this week. Share Updated at 06.14 EST Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Latest Trump comments 'do not change' support for Greenland's self-determination, Greenlandic PM says Meanwhile, Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the latest comments from Trump “do not change” the consensus that has built in support of Greenland’s right to self-determine its future. “We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” he said in a post on Facebook, with pictures from last week’s demonstrations in Greenland. He also said the upcoming meeting with Nato secretary general Rutte in Brussels was particularly “important” to discuss the Arctic security in the alliance (9:45, 11:54), saying the territory’s foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt “has my full support and I am sure that she will clearly … and with great dignity express our positions.” Share EU strikes 'decidedly diplomatic note' on US trade talks - snap analysis Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent covering international trade The EU has struck a decidedly diplomatic note today calling for calm on all sides as leaders try to work among themselves and with the White House to avert the crisis over Greenland spiralling into a full-on trade war in two weeks time. “We are trying to be calm,” European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters at the daily press briefing in Brussels on Monday. “The priority here is to engage, not escalate and avoid the issue of tariffs”. “EU leaders are consulting intensively. As well as that, engagement with the US is continuing at all levels,” he said. “Sometimes the most responsible for of leadership is restraint,” he added (12:12). He confirmed that the €93bn package of counter tariffs, agreed last year, could come into force on 7 February if Donald Trump carries out his threat to impose 10% tariffs on 2 February (12:18). His answers were designed to dial down the rhetoric after a war of words unleashed by Trump’s threat to introduce tariffs against the UK, Norway and six EU countries who supported a coordinated military presence in Greenland last week. In an unprecedented confrontation with a long-standing, now unreliable ally, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”. President Trump will be in Davos on Wednesday but as yet no meetings are planned with the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Gill said (12:12). Pressed repeatedly on the issue of facing Trump down with either the €93bn worth of retaliatory measures or activating a never-used before anti-coercion instrument, Gill drove home a clear EU message that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks asap (12:29). “I think it was very clear from the president’s post on social media yesterday that the objective here is to avoid, an escalation, find a solution that works and, ultimately, to avoid the imposition of these tariffs which serve, no good and will ultimately only hit consumers, in particular American consumers. So we’re looking to avoid that outcome.” Share EU's foreign policy chief Kallas to meet with Danish, Greenlandic politicians today EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will meet with Danish deputy prime minister, defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt later today, the commission has just confirmed. The Danish-Greenlandic pair is also separately meeting Nato’s Mark Rutte at Nato HQ today. Share EU confirms receipt of invite to join Trump's Gaza 'board of peace' Meanwhile, the European Commission has just confirmed that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, got a letter inviting her to join Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’. “The president is in close contact with EU leaders on all geopolitical matters, and discussions will continue on this topic, I’m sure, during the week. Our objective here is to achieve peace, and in particular, we want to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.” No line on whether she will accept or not. Share Emergency EU summit on transatlantic summit scheduled for Thursday night We are now getting a bit more clarity about that emergency European Council summit planned for this week, which is now expected to start 7pm local time on Thursday. Share Jakub Krupa “We are trying to be calm” might just be the best summary of the EU’s response to Trump so far, as my colleague Lisa O’Carroll rightly notes. Share EU 'taking every step possible to avoid worst case outcomes' and 'escalation' on tariffs Gill keeps repeating the EU’s main message today, that the bloc is “taking every possible step to avoid worst case outcomes, i.e. escalation … and we are trying to be calm, to be firm, to be serious, to be responsible.” “Because that’s what, in our view, leadership looks like.” He faces more questions on the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, saying “it’s primary goal is to serve as a deterrent,” and “sometimes just mentioning the possibility of a stronger tool can serve the desired effect.” Share Updated at 06.30 EST EU says current freeze on €93bn retaliation measures against US lapses on 6 Feb, could see new US tariffs kick in next day The EU’s Gill also offers a bit more detail on the EU’s potential move to retaliate against the US, unfreezing the €93bn package adopted during the summer and which was paused after the EU-US deal in Scotland. He says the suspension of the package lapses on 6th February, and that is “automatic.” “Unless the commission, in consultation with member states via the usual comitology, procedure, take steps to extend the suspension, the suspension ends and the measures kick in on the 7th February.” He says there has been “no decision” on this either way as leaders consult on next steps, but that’s the process. He adds that the focus is on avoiding an escalation and finding a solution that works for all involved. “If I was to summarise what the Commission wants to achieve here: we want to make sure that the maximum amount of EU unity and solidarity is maintained so that we are in the strongest possible position to achieve the outcomes.” Share Updated at 06.19 EST Should Trump impose tariffs, EU 'has tools at disposal' to respond to 'do everything necessary' to protect interests, bloc says But the EU’s Gill adds that “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests.” But then he repeats the earlier line that “our priority is to engage, not escalate,” and that the EU’s engagement with the US “is continuing at all levels.” But he says: “Sometimes the most responsible form of leadership is restraint.” He says he is not aware of plans for a Trump – von der Leyen meeting, but notes they’ll both be in Davos this week. Share Updated at 06.14 EST 'Intensive consultations' on response to Trump's tariff threats, but focus on engagement, EU says The European Commission’s daily briefing is now under way. The commission’s deputy chief spokesperson and trade lead, Olof Gill, says that “intensive consultations are ongoing among EU leaders,” but he says that “it’s clear from the consultations among EU leaders, including president von der Leyen, that the priority here is to engage, not escalate and avoid the imposition of tariffs.” “Why? Because this will ultimately harm consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.” Share Meanwhile, we are also getting a line from France, that the country’s president Emmanuel Macron will hold a defence and national security meeting at midday to discuss Greenland, among other issues. Germany’s Friedrich Merz is also expected to speak about Greenland and tariffs at a domestic event early afternoon. Share