Brussels is going toe to toe with Trump. Trade agreement with the US threatened by the Greenland dispute

The European Parliament is considering linking the issue of approving a trade agreement with the US with President Donald Trump's withdrawal from his claims regarding Greenland, Bloomberg wrote.

“It is clear that the national sovereignty of each country must be respected by all partners in a trade agreement,” Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, told Bloomberg.

The agency noted on Friday that EU parliamentarians are close to finalizing the trade agreement concluded in the summer by President Trump and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement provides for, among others: 15 percent tariffs on most European goods and cooperation on economic security. The EU also declared increased purchases of American energy raw materials. Some of the provisions are still awaiting approval by the European Parliament.

Against the background of Trump's threats regarding Greenland some MEPs are in favor of delaying the vote on the trade agreement scheduled for the second half of January. As Bloomberg assessed, such a delay could further strain the already delicate transatlantic trade relations. Parliamentarians are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to consider a possible postponement of the vote.

On Saturday, President Trump announced the imposition of tariffs of 10%. at eight European countries for their attitude towards his claims to Greenland. Tariffs are to increase to 25% in June. and remain in force until the US concludes an agreement to purchase the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

The American leader wrote on the Truth Social social media platform that the tariffs would apply to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the United Kingdom.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later said the EU should isolate the issue of the president's Greenland-related tariffs announced from the trade deal with the United States.

– If I were Europeans, I would probably try to isolate (the issue) if possible. If they want to make it the subject of a trade agreement, that's their business, not ours, said Greer, quoted by Reuters.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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