'Unacceptable': European leaders hit back at Trump's Greenland tariffs threat

European leaders have hit back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose fresh tariffs on them if they oppose his attempt to buy Greenland, describing the ultimatum as “completely wrong” and “unacceptable.”

Trump announced on Saturday that eight European allies would face increasing tariffs, starting at 10% on Feb.1 and rising to 25% on June 1, if a deal is not reached so Washington can “buy” the Arctic territory, which is semi-autonomous and part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Eight NATO members’ goods sent to the U.S. will face escalating tariffs “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.

The proposed tariffs would target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K, the Netherlands and Finland, Trump said.

European leaders were quick to react to the latest threat with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commenting Saturday that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” while French President Emmanuel Macron described them as “unacceptable.”

“Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld,” Macron stated on social media platform X on Saturday.

Reuters quoted a source close to Macron as saying he was pushing for the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument, which could limit access to public tenders in the EU or restrict trade in services in which the U.S. has a surplus with the bloc.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa issued a statement Saturday in which they said the EU “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

It added that it was committed to further dialogue following talks between Denmark, Greenland and top U.S. officials last week, which ended without a diplomatic breakthrough.

Nonetheless, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Trump’s tariffs threat had come “as a surprise” following the “constructive meeting” with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The European Union has called an emergency meeting which will take place at 16:00 p.m. London time on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who, like British PM Keir Starmer is known to have a good relationship with Donald Trump, called for cool heads and further talks.

He warned further tariffs — which would come on top of the 15% tariff on EU exports to the U.S., and the 10% levied on U.K. exports -- would be damaging, however.

“Among allies, issues are best resolved through discussion, not through pressure,” he said on X.

“European countries stand united. We emphasize the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We support Denmark and Greenland. Dialogue with the United States continues. Tariffs would undermine the transatlantic relationship and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”