Trump Threatens 10% Tariff Feb. 1 on Some EU Countries, Norway, UK
President Donald Trump, in a social media post, said he will impose 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K. the Netherlands and Finland starting Feb. 1, rising to 25% on June 1. He said the tariff will remain "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland. The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused. Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important."
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Trump complained that "Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown. This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet."
Denmark always has a presence in Greenland, since it is a semi-autonomous territory, but the other countries have sent a few soldiers for exercises in response to Trump's saber rattling.
The social media post did not say if these tariffs are in addition to 10% International Economic Emergency Powers Act tariffs on the U.K. and 15% IEEPA tariffs on the EU countries and Norway.
However, it also left open the possibility the threat will not come to pass, because he ended the post saying, "The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades."