US President Donald Trump has warned he will slap 10% tariffs on countries including the UK and other NATO allies for opposing his takeover of Greenland
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has insisted the UK’s position on Greenland is non-negotiable – despite Donald Trump’s threats.
Last night the US President warned he will slap 10% tariffs on countries including the UK for opposing his takeover of the territory. Ms Nandy made clear the government’s opposition – but said Britain will not descend into a “war of words” with America and ramp up the temperature.
Keir Starmer publicly criticised the erratic US President’s decision to impose tariffs on NATO allies as “completely wrong” on Saturday. Ms Nandy echoed the comments and told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme: “This conversation about tariffs, we believe it is wrong, it is deeply unhelpful and we believe it is counterproductive.
She added on Sky News: “Our PM has been unequivocal, it is the position of the UK that the future of Greenland depends on the wishes of the people of Greenland and the people of the kingdom of Denmark.”
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Earlier this week, the UK announced it had sent a military officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its military presence in the Arctic and High North.
But on Saturday evening Mr Trump said eight countries including the UK would be charged 10% tariffs on all imports to the US if they kept opposing his push to seize Greenland. He also threatened to hike the levies to 25% on June 1 if a deal to buy Greenland is not reached.
The countries also include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, because they had “journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown”.
Pressed on whether the UK government would retaliation, Ms Nandy said: “Before we talk about raising the temperature I think we need to remember the relationship with the US is incredibly important to us and always has been.” She added: “Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable, that we’ve made that very clear, and we’ll continue to make that clear.”
President Trump’s position on Greenland is different, notwithstanding that it is in our collective interest to work together and not to start a war of words.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not bow to “intimidation” and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said “we will not let ourselves be blackmailed”. Today EU ambassadors have been summoned for emergency talks over the threats.
The EU’s foreign policy chief said tariffs could make the US and EU poorer and boost China and Russia. Ex-Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas said: “China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies.”