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Anthony J Hilder on January 18, 2026

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Anthony J Hilder

The Bruges Group Trump Slaps UK With Greenland Tariff Shock Posted on 17th January 2026 by Matt Summary: Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs on the UK and seven European countries after accusing them of helping Denmark “militarise” Greenland and resisting US control of the island. A 10% tariff ... View MoreThe Bruges Group Trump Slaps UK With Greenland Tariff Shock Posted on 17th January 2026 by Matt Summary: Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs on the UK and seven European countries after accusing them of helping Denmark “militarise” Greenland and resisting US control of the island. A 10% tariff is set for 1 February, rising to 25% on 1 June unless a deal is reached. What Trump has announced and the dates that matter US President Donald Trump said he will impose a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland from 1 February. He said that rate would increase to 25% from 1 June, and would stay in place until an agreement is reached on the United States acquiring Greenland. “A 10 per cent tariff on all goods sent to the US would be imposed from Feb 1 … before being increased to 25 per cent on June 1.” Trump posted his position on Truth Social, blaming the named countries for escalating tensions around Greenland and framing it as a wider security risk. “A very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.” Why Greenland is suddenly tied to UK trade The immediate trigger is the small multinational military presence being sent to Greenland to support Denmark ahead of planned exercises, a move described as a signal of backing for Danish sovereignty. Reuters has reported the deployments were intended to help Denmark prepare military exercises and send a political message amid the growing US pressure campaign. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and European leaders have pushed back on the idea that it can be pressured into changing hands via threats. Protests have also been reported in Greenland and Denmark in response to the takeover rhetoric. The UK angle: Labour dragged into a fight it does not control For Britain, the political problem is simple: the UK is being treated as part of a European bloc for punishment, despite not being in the EU. That is the risk when foreign policy is run like theatre. UK exporters get hit, and Westminster is left reacting. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously backed Denmark’s position, saying Greenland’s future is not for others to decide. That stance now collides with Trump’s tariff timetable. “Greenland’s future [is] not for others to decide.” Separately, Reuters has also reported discussions among European countries, including Britain, about boosting NATO-linked presence in Greenland to show seriousness about Arctic security. What Reform UK and the Right are likely to say next On the Right, the tension is real: many voters are instinctively pro-Trump, but tariffs on British goods land on British workers and British firms. Nigel Farage has warned that a US invasion of Greenland would be “the end of NATO”, while suggesting he does not think Trump will actually do it. “That would be the end of NATO.” The coming UK debate is going to split into two tracks: support for stronger Western defence in the Arctic, and anger that Labour has no leverage when Washington decides to turn trade into a weapon. What happens next and what businesses will watch Between now and 1 February, the key question is whether the White House treats this as a negotiating tactic or a fixed policy. For UK exporters, the biggest immediate fear is not just the 10% headline number, but the 25% step-up on 1 June and the uncertainty it creates for contracts and pricing. If tariffs arrive on schedule, the political pressure in London will be to respond without escalating into a wider trade fight. The strategic pressure will be to protect UK interests while refusing to accept the idea that sovereign territory can be traded under threat.

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January 18, 2026