President of the United States, Donald Trump is considering tariffs on countries that do not support his plans for Greenland.
He says this in a side note while talking about how he has used tariffs as a means to get countries to change course, at a White House roundtable.
During the meeting, which is about health, Trump talks about the prices of medicine, among other things.
- I might put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security, he says.
Trump does not elaborate on what he means by tariffs.
Is it legal?
According to Peter Bay Kirkegaard, who is senior chief consultant at Danish Industry, Trump may impose a special tariff on countries that do not support his plans for Greenland, "if he really wants to".
According to Kirkegaard, however, the question is whether it is legal.
- This is something you only find out if it is brought before a court, says the senior chief consultant.
- Of course, you have to keep a close eye on what Trump says. But first of all, you have to stick to what he does. The question is whether he does something about it, it says.
Will condition trade agreement with the US
But it is not only Trump who can threaten drastic solutions. According to Bloomberg, certain parties in the European Parliament are considering conditions the final approval of the trade agreement between the EU and the US that Trump gives up to gain control over Greenland. This is written by TV2.
- It is clear that the national sovereignty of any country must respected by all parties to the trade agreement, says Bernd Lange, the long-time German chairman of the European Parliament's trade committee, who helps lead negotiations, in an interview with Bloomberg.
