Punitive tariffs instead of partnership - the EU must review its relations with the US over the dispute over Greenland. Brussels is determined to respond appropriately to the punitive tariffs announced by US President Trump.
A decision may be made as early as this Thursday - at the extraordinary summit of EU heads of state and government. As the German public media ARD writes, among the options being discussed are retaliatory tariffs - for example, a whole package of measures worth over 93 billion euros, including, for example, tariffs on American whiskey, aircraft spare parts and chicken.
The measures must also be supported by countries that are not affected by the so-called punitive tariffs on Greenland. Because the EU wants to demonstrate unity. European Council President Antonio Costa said the tariffs were undermining transatlantic relations and were incompatible with the EU-US trade agreement. He also assured that member states were united and ready to defend themselves against any form of coercion.
"Trust has been seriously undermined"
ARD quoted European Parliament (EP) trade expert Bernd Lage as saying that the customs agreement with the US could also be frozen. Security expert and head of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger believes that Europe should confront the US president and show him “the tools of torture”. He is categorical that “Europeans' trust in the US as their partner has been seriously damaged“.
Former European Parliament President Martin Schulz believes that Trump is endangering the EU's existing principles and is posing new security challenges to Europe. “He wants Europe to consist of vassal states that do what he says“, he emphasizes, quoted by ARD. The German Social Democrat called Trump “an intolerant, disrespectful and unworthy person.“
Macron is considering “trade bazooka“
It is heard from the entourage of French President Emmanuel Macron that he is determined to request the activation of the so-called Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). It is also known as the “trade bazooka“ because it gives the EU broad and flexible options to respond to economic pressure.
For the relevant regulation to be activated, there must be a situation in which a third party tries to force the EU or its member state to take a certain decision through trade measures. The activation of the measure can be requested by both an individual EU country and the European Commission (EC). Brussels claims that the main purpose of the instrument is deterrence, but it would be best if it did not have to be used at all, writes ARD.
Trump's course on Greenland is not well received in the US either
Meanwhile, Trump has been criticized even by his own Republicans for his confrontational course towards Greenland. Republican Congressman Don Bacon spoke out most sharply. He said the following to CNN: “Such threats and harassment against an ally are wrong. And if he (Trump – ed.) is seriously thinking about invading Greenland, let him know that this will probably be the end of his presidency. Most Republicans know that this is immoral and wrong. And we will oppose it“, ARD quotes Bacon as saying.
In front of NBC, Republican Senator Michael McCaul recalled that even now - under a defense agreement with Denmark from 1951 - the United States has unlimited capabilities to deploy military force on the island for defense purposes. Against this background, Trump's argument that the United States needs Greenland for its national security seems untenable.
Authors: Sabrina Fritz ARD | Gisele Ukar ARD