Starmer issues blistering 2-word reply to Trump’s punitive tariffs | UK | News
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on US allies. Starmer described Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on US allies as “completely wrong”.
“Our position on Greenland is very clear; it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes,” he said in a statement.
“We have also made clear that Arctic Security is important for all of NATO and that our allies must collectively do more to counter the Russian threat from different parts of the Arctic.
“Imposing tariffs on allies in order to ensure the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. Of course, we will pursue this directly with the US administration.”
Sweden’s prime minister said his country was holding “intensive discussions” with other countries to decide on a coordinated response.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to Donald Trump’s latest trade threats, calling the tariffs proposed to European countries “unacceptable”.
Mr. Macron appeared to liken the situation to that in Ukraine, stating that he would not give in to “intimidation.”
“When we encounter such situations, no intimidation or threat will affect us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world.”
The Netherlands, one of the countries affected by Trump’s new customs tax measures, says it “takes into consideration” the 10 percent customs duty.
Foreign Minister David van Weel said in a social media post that the Netherlands was in “close contact” with other EU member states to coordinate a response.
This comes after Donald Trump announced that the UK and other European countries would impose a 10 per cent tariff on “any goods” sent to the US from February 1 until a deal to buy Greenland is reached.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, the US President said: “Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, Greenlandfor unknown purposes,” adding: “This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Planet.”
These will remain in effect “until an agreement is reached on the full and complete purchase of Greenland,” Trump said, adding that these rates will rise to 25 percent on June 1.
