Trump halts planned European tariffs after talks yield Greenland deal framework

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Trump halts planned European tariffs after talks yield Greenland deal framework

2026-01-22 12:08 Last Updated At：01-23 00:57

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte yielded "the framework of a future deal" on Greenland and the wider Arctic region.

He added that, based on this understanding, he would not move forward with tariffs on eight European countries scheduled to take effect Feb 1.

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Trump halts planned European tariffs after talks yield Greenland deal framework

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Trump halts planned European tariffs after talks yield Greenland deal framework

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the framework emerged from a "very productive meeting" with Rutte and would be "a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations" if finalized.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on Feb 1," Trump wrote, without providing details on the terms of the proposed agreement.

Trump also said further discussions were underway on "The Golden Dome," a proposed multi-layer missile defense system for the United States, as it relates to Greenland, adding that additional information would be released as talks progress.

He said that U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the negotiations and report directly to him.

Ahead of his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump had threatened new tariffs on eight European countries, including Denmark and major NATO countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany. At the time, Trump said the measures would remain in place until a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump renewed his push for U.S. acquisition of Greenland and sharpened criticism of Europe and the NATO in a special address at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, adding fresh strain to transatlantic ties.

In his speech, Trump called for "immediate negotiations" on U.S. acquisition of Greenland, describing it as "a strategic national and international security interest."

He publicly ruled out taking Greenland by military force, saying he did not intend to use "excessive strength and force," while insisting the United States was uniquely positioned to secure the territory.

EU leaders stay wary of US threats despite Trump's shifts on Greenland, tariffs

The European Union convened an emergency meeting on Thursday concerning Greenland, with leaders staying wary of the U.S. threats despite President Donald Trump's recent announcements of ruling out military force to acquire the Arctic territory and withdrawing tariff threats against eight European nations.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, Trump said he would not use "excessive strength and force" to take Greenland, while insisting the United States was uniquely positioned to secure the territory.

Trump also announced his decision not to follow through on his threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

In a social media post, Trump said a framework had emerged from a "very productive meeting" with Rutte.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1," Trump wrote.

Despite the shifts, EU leaders had emphasized ahead of their emergency meeting that there is no guarantee that Trump will not change ideas again.

They also noted that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland has triggered irreparable damage to the relations between Europe and the United State.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that the transatlantic relationship suffered a severe setback over the past week.

Over the past year, Europe has come to recognize that its relationship with the United States is different from before, and they must be prepared to face more unpredictable factors, Kallas said.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed full support for Denmark, noting that France remains highly vigilant and prepared to take measures if threatened again.

Furthermore, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed that the recent dispute has eroded the trust between European countries and the United States.

He expressed the hope that both sides can get back to serious discussions.