EU-US trade deal in limbo after Trump slaps 10% tariffs over Greenland claims

European parliamentarian draws red line

A delay in ratification of a US-EU trade deal would mean “American companies will continue to pay tariffs for exporting to Europe,” Muresan wrote in an X post. Under the deal agreed last year, European products would have faced 15 per cent tariffs, while the import tax on American products was to be cut to 0 per cent.

That will now have to wait. “Yesterday’s announcement by Donald Trump is not a good deal for the United States of America,” the vice-president of the European People’s Party wrote, adding: “The European Parliament matters. Parliaments matter in democracies”.

‘Stability would have been only gain’

In a series of posts on his X account, Muresan detailed why the decision to postpone the ratification was justified. “By threatening to introduce tariffs on several European countries, President Trump is introducing tariffs on the United States of America. How? Last year we agreed on a EU-US trade deal, foreseeing 15% tariffs on European products and 0% tariffs on US products. This agreement will not be ratified by the European Parliament, given the new circumstances. Therefore, tariffs on US products remain. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

“Stability would have been the only gain from last year’s trade deal between the US and the European Union. Today’s announcement by President Trump to eventually impose new tariffs on several EU member states takes away that stability. This is why the postponement of the ratification of that trade deal is justified,” he added.

The EU-US trade deal agreed last year was supposed to introduce 15% tariffs on European products and to reduce tariffs on American products to 0%.

Yesterday’s announcement by President Trump to introduce additional tariffs on European countries, because of Greenland, means we…

— Siegfried Muresan 🇷🇴🇪🇺 (@SMuresan) January 18, 2026

The trade deal comprising the US and the EU, with its 27 member states, was aimed to resolve various tariff and trade issues.

Trump’s latest tariff threat on EU nations

Trump had announced 10 per cent import tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain. The additional tariffs are said to take effect from February 1, 2026. From June 1, 2026, these tariffs will be increased to 25 per cent.

Trump also posted that, “this Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland”.

Trump has not ruled out a military invasion to take over Greenland, citing national security concerns, if his bid to “purchase” the Danish autonomous territory fails to make headway.