The European Union will hold an emergency meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight member countries over Greenland, officials confirmed.
Trump’s plan ties the tariffs to his goal of acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from European and American political leaders.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said the measures “will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic” and could embolden shared enemies. She added that Greenland and Denmark have made it clear the territory is not for sale.
Kaja Kallas, vice president of the European Commission and the EU’s chief diplomat, warned that China and Russia “must be having a field day” over divisions among allies. She stressed that any Arctic security concerns could be handled through NATO and that tariffs risk weakening prosperity for both the EU and the U.S.
Several European leaders suggested halting final approval of an EU-U.S. trade deal reached last summer, which requires European Parliament approval to become official. Bernd Lange, longtime chair of the Parliament’s international trade committee, called Trump’s tariffs “unbelievable” and “political coercion.” He urged suspending the trade deal process until the threats are lifted.
Manfred Weber, head of the European People’s Party, also said the party supports a U.S.-EU trade deal but that approval “is not possible at this stage” due to Trump’s announcements. Siegfried Muresan, a European Parliament member, added that the tariffs undermine stability that the trade deal was meant to provide.
David van Weel, the Netherlands’ foreign minister, said his country was monitoring Trump’s announcement and coordinating with the EU Commission to respond.
Trump’s tariff threats also drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said the tariffs would raise costs for families and businesses and urged the administration to choose diplomacy over threats. They emphasized that the affected countries are NATO allies who have fought alongside the U.S. and contributed to American security.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats plan to introduce legislation to block the tariffs, warning that Trump’s actions have already raised prices and hurt the economy.
The U.S. Senate has passed similar bipartisan resolutions to limit Trump’s tariffs in the past, though House action remains uncertain.
The EU’s emergency meeting comes as political leaders weigh responses to the tariffs, the potential suspension of a trade deal, and broader impacts on transatlantic relations. The dispute highlights tensions between U.S. unilateral actions and coordinated European diplomacy, particularly concerning Greenland and Arctic security.
The meeting is expected to set the EU’s next steps in addressing the tariffs and to reaffirm the bloc’s stance on respecting Greenland’s sovereignty while maintaining trade and security partnerships with the United States.