Trump-Greenland live updates: EU calls emergency meeting and warns of ‘downward spiral’ after US tariff threats

Our chief international correspondent Bel Trew takes a look at Donald Trump’s fixation with Greenland:

Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo said tariffs would be in “no-one’s interest” and would harm the US and Europe.

Writing on social media, he said: “Finland’s position is that issues among allies are resolved through discussion and shared rules, not by creating pressure. The United States has raised concerns related to the Arctic region. Arctic security is an important issue for Finland.

“Finland wants to strengthen Arctic security together with all allies, while respecting the territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.

“I understand the concerns of Finns. Tariffs would be harmful to both Europe and the United States. They are in no-one’s interest.

“We are working closely with our European partners and allies. We are ensuring the security of Finland and Finns.”

The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, is the latest to respond to Donald Trump’s tariffs announcement.

Writing on social media, he said: “We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us.

“If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia.”

Sir Keir Starmer has lashed out at Donald Trump’s decision to hit the UK and other European countries with a 10 per cent tariff if they continue their opposition to a US takeover of Greenland.

The US president threatened to increase the tariff to 25 per cent from 1 June, until a deal is reached to buy Greenland from Denmark. It applies to the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

Sir Keir said the government will take this up directly with the Trump administration, after the US president warned “world peace” is at stake if the US is not permitted to control the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

"Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” the prime minister said in a statement. “We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration."

Read the full report here:

As we reported earlier, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa said in a joint statement that Trump’s move would case a “dangerous downwards spiral”.

Here is their statement in full:

Liam Byrne, Labour chair of the UK’s Commons Business and Trade Committee, said on social media: “This isn’t trade policy. It’s pressure politics.

“Using tariffs to punish allies for lawful security decisions sets a dangerous precedent.

“Britain must now stand with its allies to force a rethink – calmly, collectively – but with consequences.”

And UK Treasury minister Torsten Bell wrote: “Madness – totally wrong when all Nato allies should be focused on the Russian threat and Ukraine.”

A US trade representative said on Saturday it is up to Europe to decide whether it wants to raise Donald Trump’s new tariff threats during negotiations on a trade deal.

"If I were the Europeans I would probably try to silo this off if they can. If they want to make it an issue in the trade deal that's really up to them and not us," Jamieson Greer told reporters at the Detroit auto show.

Trump on Saturday vowed to hit some European allies with tariffs for opposing his over desire to take over Greenland.