Keir Starmer on Trump Tariff: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reacted sharply to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs being imposed on 8 European countries over the Greenland dispute. He has clearly said that trade war is not in anyone’s interest. Alliances are built on respect and partnership, they do not depend on any pressure.
Trump is going to impose 10 percent tariff from February 1 on 8 European countries opposing Greenland’s inclusion in the US. He has also threatened to increase it to 25% in June if no agreement is reached. The 8 countries on which Trump announced the imposition of tariffs include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, Netherlands, Finland.
Use of tariff is completely wrong – Starmer
On this decision of the US President, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. This is not the right way to resolve differences within the alliance. A trade war is in no one’s interests and my job will always be to act in the UK national interest.
He said that in the case of Greenland, the right way to deal with such a serious problem is peaceful negotiations between the partners. Greenland’s security matters and as climate change transforms the Arctic, sea routes will open up and strategic competition will increase. The High North will need more attention, more investment and stronger collective defence. The United States will play a key role in this effort, and the UK stands ready to contribute fully with its allies through NATO.
‘Deciding the future of Greenland…’
Starmer further said that there is a principle that cannot be ignored here because it is linked to how stable and reliable international cooperation works. Any decision regarding the future status of Greenland rests solely with the people of Greenland and Denmark, this right is fundamental and we support it. Denmark is a close ally of the UK and the United States, a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in recent decades.
He clearly said that tariff war is not in anyone’s interest. During this, it was indicated that at present Britain is not considering retaliatory tariffs. Keir Starmer said that we have not reached that stage yet. So my focus is on making sure we don’t get to that point. He also made it clear that he will continue dialogue on this issue with European allies, NATO and the US.