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Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has openly criticised President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose tariffs on allied countries should they fail to back his proposal to acquire Greenland. Swinney emphasized that trade partners should not use tariffs as leverage in negotiations, describing such tactics as inappropriate. The UK, along with seven other European nations, collectively condemned Trump’s plan to introduce a 10% import levy, escalating to 25% by the summer, if no agreement is reached regarding the autonomous Danish territory. A statement issued by these countries cautioned that such tariff threats endanger transatlantic relations and could trigger a harmful downward spiral.
Taking to the social media platform X, John Swinney expressed that the planned tariffs were fundamentally misguided. He stressed that the future governance of Greenland should be determined by its people rather than through coercive economic measures. His exact words were: “Greenland’s future should be decided by the people of Greenland. Tariffs should not be a bargaining chip in place of reasonable dialogue between partners.” The White House, however, has escalated its push for the US to take control of Greenland, citing its strategic importance for national security. President Trump has even suggested that forceful acquisition remains a possibility, adding urgency to the dispute. On the preceding Saturday, Trump declared that tariffs would be enacted on imports from NATO allies including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting 1 February unless new terms are agreed upon.
The repercussions of these tariffs could be significant for Scottish exports, notably whisky and salmon, both of which already face a 10% US import tax. The impact on these industries is considerable, with the whisky sector alone citing costs amounting to £4 million weekly due to tariffs. In light of this, the Scottish government has been lobbying for either a reduction or removal of these import duties. Discussions between Scottish officials and the Trump administration have raised hopes for a bespoke trade deal benefiting Scotch whisky, but a final agreement has yet to emerge. At the UK level, efforts continue to negotiate tariff relief as part of broader trade talks with the US, though negotiations remain incomplete.
Responses from political figures have been largely critical of the US approach. Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, called the tariff threats “not good” and labelled Trump’s methods as unorthodox negotiation tactics. He urged the UK Prime Minister to deploy all possible diplomatic efforts, stating: “Denmark and Greenland’s arrangements have got to be done diplomatically.” Meanwhile, Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow Scottish secretary, expressed concern about the negative consequences for whisky exports and called on Trump to reconsider, highlighting the importance of trade in fostering mutual prosperity and peace. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar echoed these sentiments, underscoring the need to defend NATO allies and Greenland’s territorial independence while protecting UK business interests. Ross Greer, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, spoke strongly against Trump’s actions, stressing the necessity for a robust European response to what he described as blatant breaches of international law. Public reaction has also been vocal, with thousands protesting in Greenland’s capital Nuuk and in Copenhagen, reflecting widespread opposition to the proposed US takeover
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