Trump's Greenland Tariff Threat Unites UK Political Right in Condemnation

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has labeled U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs over his Greenland plan a "mistake," confirming she has personally communicated her concerns to him.

Speaking to journalists during a visit to Seoul on Sunday, Meloni stated, "I believe that imposing new sanctions today would be a mistake." She added, "I spoke to Donald Trump a few hours ago and told him what I think."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the press in Seoul, where she detailed her opposition to potential U.S. tariffs over the Greenland issue.

Framing the Dispute as Miscommunication

Despite her direct opposition to the tariffs, the far-right prime minister, who is considered a Trump ally in Europe, attempted to de-escalate the conflict. She suggested to reporters that "there has been a problem of understanding and communication" between the United States and Europe regarding the autonomous Danish territory.

Meloni noted that from the American perspective, the signals coming from Europe were unclear. "It seems to me that the risk is that the initiatives of some European countries were interpreted as anti-American, which was clearly not the intention," she explained, without specifying which initiatives she was referring to.

A Call for NATO Intervention

Meloni argued that NATO is the appropriate venue for resolving the growing crisis. She reported speaking with the NATO secretary general, who confirmed the alliance is beginning to work on the matter.

"NATO is the place where we must try to organise together deterrents against interference that may be hostile in a territory that is clearly strategic," she said. "I believe that the fact that NATO has begun to work on this is a good initiative."

Trump's Tariff Threats Explained

The dispute centers on Trump's moves related to Greenland, which he claims is essential for U.S. national security. In response to European objections, Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on all goods imported into the U.S. from several key nations:

• Denmark

• Norway

• Sweden

• France

• Germany

• The United Kingdom

• The Netherlands

• Finland

The Netherlands' foreign minister has labeled U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose new tariffs on European allies as "blackmail." The move is designed to pressure several nations into facilitating the sale of Greenland to the United States.

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel characterized President Trump's tariff threat as a form of blackmail that undermines the NATO alliance.

"It's blackmail what he's doing," Foreign Minister David van Weel said during an interview on Dutch television. "And it's not necessary. It doesn't help the alliance (NATO) and it also doesn't help Greenland."

Trump's Tariff Ultimatum

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced that additional 10% import tariffs would take effect on February 1. The tariffs target goods from eight European countries that have committed personnel to a NATO exercise on Greenland:

• Denmark

• Norway

• Sweden

• France

• Germany

• The Netherlands

• Finland

• Great Britain

Strategic Tensions Over Greenland

Van Weel argued that connecting trade policy to the Greenland issue was inappropriate. He explained that the NATO mission was intended to demonstrate Europe's commitment to defending the island, not as a bargaining chip for its sale.

President Trump has insisted on achieving full U.S. ownership of Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. He cites the island's strategic location and mineral deposits as vital to American security.

However, leaders in both Denmark and Greenland have firmly stated that the island is not for sale and does not wish to become part of the United States.

European Union Prepares a Response

In response to the escalating trade tensions, ambassadors from the 27 European Union member states are set to convene for an emergency meeting on Sunday. The primary agenda will be to formulate a unified response to Trump's tariff threat.

South Korea's government has announced it will not stand by as the United States imposes a 25% tariff on imported artificial intelligence chips, vowing to negotiate directly with Washington to protect its semiconductor industry.

A presidential spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that Seoul will push for favorable terms to shield its globally significant chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. While Donald Trump’s new tariff proclamation may not immediately affect these memory chip giants, the South Korean government is taking proactive steps to mitigate any future impact.

Officials reminded reporters of a joint fact sheet published last year, in which the U.S. agreed that South Korea would not receive worse tariff treatment than other chip-producing nations. This agreement is now facing a critical test.

How the Initial Tariffs Target AI Chips

The first wave of tariffs primarily targets high-end AI chips, not the memory chips that form the core of South Korea's semiconductor exports.

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stated on Saturday that the initial measures focus on advanced processors made by companies like Nvidia and AMD. "The impact is expected to be limited," he noted, as the memory chips typically exported by South Korea are not included in this phase.

However, Yeo cautioned against complacency. "It is not yet time to be reassured," he said, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the future scope of the tariffs. He affirmed that the government would continue collaborating with local companies to secure the best possible outcome.

The Broader 'Build in America' Threat

The new U.S. tariff policy, signed by Trump on Wednesday, is officially justified on national security grounds. It applies a 25% duty on specific AI chips, including Nvidia's H200 and AMD's MI325X.

The White House described the scope as "narrow," listing several exemptions. The tariffs will not apply to chips imported for:

• U.S. data centers

• Public sector applications

• Consumer electronics

• Startups

• Civil industrial uses not involving data centers

Despite these exemptions, the policy signals a clear long-term strategy: pressuring foreign companies to increase domestic production in the United States. The official fact sheet explicitly leaves the door open for wider tariffs on more chip types and related products.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick delivered a stark warning, suggesting that South Korean and Taiwanese chipmakers that do not invest in American manufacturing could face tariffs as high as 100%. "If you want to sell in America, you should build in America," Lutnick declared at a groundbreaking event for Micron's new plant in New York.

The new rules follow a nine-month investigation conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which targeted advanced chips meeting specific performance thresholds.

France is preparing to request that the European Union deploy its most powerful economic defense mechanism after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs tied to his demand to purchase Greenland.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has already branded the tariff threat "unacceptable," will formally ask the EU to activate its anti-coercion instrument (ACI), according to a person familiar with the decision.

The move comes in response to a U.S. plan to impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, including France, starting February 1. In a social media post, President Trump threatened to raise the levy to 25% in June unless a "Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

In response to the announcement, EU national ambassadors are set to meet on Sunday to determine the bloc's next steps.

What is the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument?

The ACI is the European Union's most formidable retaliatory trade tool. While it has never been used, the instrument was designed primarily as a deterrent to counter coercive economic actions from other countries. It specifically targets situations where trade is used to pressure the policy choices of the EU or its member states.

If triggered, the EU could enact a range of countermeasures, including:

• Imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

• Introducing new taxes on tech companies.

• Placing targeted curbs on U.S. investment in the EU.

• Restricting access to certain segments of the EU market.

• Barring firms from bidding for public contracts in Europe.

New Tariffs Threaten Existing EU-US Trade Deal

According to the person familiar with President Macron's thinking, Trump's tariff plan directly challenges the validity of the trade deal reached between the EU and the U.S. last year.

That agreement has been partially implemented but still requires final approval from parliament. With the new tensions over Greenland, that approval process is now likely to be halted.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Saturday, signaling a push to deepen bilateral ties around a major nuclear energy project and shared geopolitical views.

The meeting highlights Slovakia's strategy of strengthening its relationship with Washington, even as its policies often diverge from the European Union's mainstream positions. The discussions covered international issues, with a strong focus on the war in Ukraine and future energy security.

A €15 Billion Nuclear Partnership Takes Center Stage

A central topic of the meeting was a planned €15 billion ($17.4 billion) nuclear project in Slovakia. The talks followed the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on nuclear energy cooperation on Friday, which sets the stage for formal negotiations with Westinghouse Electric Co.

Slovakia intends to build a state-owned 1,200 MW reactor. Prime Minister Fico indicated that the contract could be awarded to Westinghouse as soon as next year, with the project slated for completion around 2040.

"Both countries fully recognize that serious energy challenges cannot be solved through wind turbines or photovoltaics," Fico stated in a video message. "The cornerstone for the future is the rapid development of nuclear energy."

Aligning on Ukraine and Criticizing the EU

Fico, 61, confirmed that he and Trump discussed the war in Ukraine, where he reiterated Slovakia's call for a peaceful resolution. "Diplomacy and mutual listening must take precedence over military solutions," Fico said.

This stance reflects a broader alignment between the two leaders. The four-time prime minister, who survived a 2024 assassination attempt, frequently employs Trump-like rhetoric that prioritizes national interests over established alliances. His nationalist views, despite his left-wing domestic platform, earned him an invitation to the conservative CPAC conference in the U.S. last year.

Like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico is a vocal critic of several core EU policies, including:

• Military aid to Ukraine

• Ambitious climate targets

• The bloc's migration policy

Fico's "Slovakia First" Foreign Policy

Fico has actively sought to strengthen economic ties with Moscow and Beijing. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin multiple times. In 2023, his government halted Slovakia's military assistance to Kyiv, arguing it was "unnecessarily prolonging the war."

While describing the invasion as a violation of international law, Fico has also claimed that Moscow was provoked by the West. He has expressed support for an early peace deal, even if it requires Ukraine to make territorial concessions.

Economic Interests and Energy Dependence

The meeting also touched on economic matters rooted in past trade disputes. Fico has previously lobbied Trump to lower U.S. tariffs on European cars, which have severely impacted Slovakia's auto-dependent economy. According to a UniCredit Bank analysis, Slovak car exports to the U.S.—once the second-largest market—have been cut in half since the tariffs were introduced.

On energy, Trump has consistently pushed European nations to reduce their reliance on Russian supplies. However, he previously approved a temporary exemption for Hungary and Slovakia, two landlocked countries bordering Ukraine that are heavily dependent on Russian energy.

China's exports of rare earth materials edged lower in December, as markets monitored rising geopolitical friction between Beijing and Japan that could foreshadow tighter shipment controls on the critical minerals.

December Export Figures Show Minor Contraction

According to customs data released on Sunday, China's total outbound shipments of rare earths reached 6,745 tonnes in December. This marks a decrease from the 6,958 tonnes exported in November.

These materials are indispensable components in a wide range of modern technologies, including electric vehicles, advanced weapons systems, and high-tech manufacturing. A significant portion of these exports consists of rare-earth magnets, a product that provides Beijing with powerful leverage in global trade disputes.

Japan Becomes New Focus of Export Controls

In recent years, the rare earths supply chain has become a major geopolitical flashpoint, with the United States and other nations actively working to reduce their dependence on China's dominance in mining and processing.

While a trade truce between Beijing and Washington in October eased some of those tensions, the focus has now shifted to Japan. China's Ministry of Commerce recently announced new controls on shipments to Japan that have potential military applications. This move followed remarks made last year by Japan's prime minister concerning Taiwan.

Adding to the pressure, Beijing is also reportedly considering stricter scrutiny of licenses for shipping these minerals to Japan, according to a report from the China Daily.

Awaiting a Clearer Picture

The export data released on Sunday represents a total figure for all destinations and does not offer a breakdown by individual country or specific product type. More detailed data, which could provide greater insight into trade flows with specific partners, is expected to be released on Tuesday.