The U.S. president says the measures will remain in place until an agreement is reached on the “complete and absolute purchase” of Greenland, citing national security concerns.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the introduction of new tariffs on imports - which correctly are defined as import duties - from several European countries that oppose his policy on Greenland.

Beginning February 1, all goods imported into the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be subject to a 10% tariff. The rate will increase to 25% starting June 1, Trump said in a post on his social media platform.

“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland… 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,” Trump was quoted as saying by media. 

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Trump argued that the issue goes beyond U.S.

interests, claiming that Greenland is critical to global security. He said Denmark lacks the capacity to defend the island from growing influence by China and Russia, dismissively suggesting it could not be protected with “two dog sleds.”

The announcement comes amid public opposition in Denmark. On January 17, several thousand people took part in demonstrations supporting the preservation of Greenland’s current status and rejecting any potential transfer of sovereignty.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, though it retains significant self-governing powers. Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of the United States acquiring the island, a proposal that Danish and Greenlandic officials have consistently rejected.