EU Halts Trade Deal with U.S. Over Greenland Tariff Threats
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Teh European Parliament suspended work on ratifying the trade deal reached with the United States in July 2023, citing escalating threats from President Donald Trump regarding tariffs on European nations and thier allies over the issue of Greenland.
Context of the Suspension
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s international trade committee, announced the suspension on Wednesday, stating the EU was “left with no alternative” due to continued and escalating threats, including tariff threats against Greenland, Denmark, and other european allies. Lange emphasized that until the U.S. demonstrates a commitment to cooperation, the EU will not proceed with implementing the agreement. He further stated, “Our sovereignty and territorial integrity are at stake,” in a post on X.
Trump’s Tariff Proposal
The suspension followed a statement by President Trump on Saturday,August 17,2024,where he threatened to impose tariffs on seven european Union countries and the United Kingdom if they did not allow the United States to “control” Greenland.
Details of the Trade Deal
The trade deal, initially agreed upon during a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Trump at his golf club in Turnberry, Scotland, in July 2023, centered on a cap of 15% on U.S. tariffs applied to most imports from the EU. This rate represented one of the lowest tariff levels received by the U.S.
