/Reuters Agency
The United States Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, stated that it is up to Europe to decide whether it wants to raise new tariff threats from President Donald Trump against some European countries in relation to Greenland.
“If I were the Europeans I would probably try to isolate this if they can. If they want to make it an issue within the trade agreement, that is really up to them and not us,” Greer told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show.
On Saturday, January 17, Trump promised to impose tariffs on some European allies for opposing his desire to acquire Greenland. Trump said additional 10% tariffs on imports would go into effect on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain – all already subject to tariffs imposed by Trump – and would increase to 25% on June 1 if an agreement was not reached.
In September, the Trump administration formally implemented the US trade agreement with the European Union, adopting a 15% tariff rate for EU cars and auto parts and establishing exemptions for generic pharmaceuticals, aircraft, and aircraft parts.
Greer argued that the potential tariffs on Greenland “are largely national security determinations,” but added that “whenever there is a tariff involved, we are involved, and we want to make sure we are preparing the president so he can take the measures he deems necessary.”
The Trade Representative noted that the European Union has not yet reduced any of the US tariffs as part of the agreement. “They promised to do so, we have moderated our tariffs for them, but they have not yet done so for us. Their process is moving slowly,” he commented.
Greer also stated that he has already spoken with his Canadian counterparts since they announced an agreement on Friday to allow China to import 49,000 electric vehicles into Canada with reduced tariffs. Greer and other US officials called the idea problematic and said Canada would end up regretting it.
