EU Ministers Slam Trump's Greenland Tariff Threat as 'Completely Unacceptable'

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN Affairs Helen McEntee and Tánaise Simon Harris have condemned Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European nations who oppose his plan to take over Greenland as “completely unacceptable” and “deeply regrettable”. European leaders have widely condemned the US President’s announcement that he will subject eight European countries to a 10% tariff from next month, which would increase to 25% in June. Ambassadors from all 27 EU member states are meeting this afternoon to discuss a response. In a statement this morning, McEntee said that peace and security “depend on all UN Member States abiding by the fundamental principles of the UN Charter”. Advertisement “We have seen the appalling and unacceptable consequences when States do not do so. There can be no lasting peace and security in a world where these principles are ignored and undermined,” she said. “Ireland has been crystal clear that the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by the Greenlandic people, in line with well-established democratic principles and international law. This is a position that will not change. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States is non-negotiable. McEntee said a commitment to multilateralism and the international legal order is the cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. “This has been the case for the past seven decades, since Ireland joined the UN in 1955. It will remain the case.” She continued: “Denmark and Greenland of course have the sovereign right to arrange military exercises with their partners, on their own territory.” The Minister said Ireland is “coordinating closely with our EU and wider European partners” in response to Trump’s announcement. “The only way forward to resolve issues of concern to the US, or to any other country, is through respectful engagement.” ‘Most concerning’ Tánaiste Simon Harris has described Trump’s tariff threat as “most concerning and very unwelcome”. The Minister for Finance said he will travel to Brussels tomorrow to meet with his European counterparts. “An incredible amount of work and effort, in good faith, was put into reaching an agreement with the US to protect economic activity flowing in both directions across the Atlantic,” Harris said. “This was in the clear interest of economies across Europe, including Ireland but also in the clear interest of the United States. Developments in recent hours which seek to undermine that and move away from that by the US are most concerning and very unwelcome. He added: “This threat of penalising European economies and businesses and linking that with Greenland is completely unacceptable and I know Europe will stand united and coordinated in considering how to respond.”