Newshour EU holds emergency meeting over US tariff threats
Jan 18, 2026
Annalena Baerbock, the Former German foreign minister and current UN General Assembly President, discusses the implications of Trump's territorial ambitions and the violation of international law. Gabriel Gavin, a diplomatic reporter from Politico, analyzes the EU's emergency response to tariff threats and the unity among member states despite differing views. They explore how these tensions could jeopardize a future US-EU trade deal and highlight the necessity of standing firm on multilateral rules.
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Tariff Threat Seen As Economic Blackmail
- President Trump threatened a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries over Greenland, framing it as leverage for his acquisition bid.
- European capitals viewed the move as economic blackmail that risks damaging trade and allied relations.
EU Considers Anti-Coercion Measures
- EU diplomats are considering invoking the bloc's anti-coercion tool to retaliate, targeting investment and IP protections.
- The move signals EU willingness to respond collectively to perceived US coercion over Greenland.
Scotland Trade Deal Now At Risk
- A 2025 trade deal with the US that set 0% EU tariffs and 15% US tariffs now looks vulnerable.
- If ratification stalls, transatlantic trade relations and business certainty face renewed instability.