Von der Leyen: The EU is "fully prepared" to counter Trump's tariffs.
Facing tariff threats from U.S. President Trump over the Greenland issue, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it clear on Wednesday that the EU is ready to "fight back."
In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen emphasized that although Europe prefers dialogue and solutions, if necessary, the EU is fully prepared to act with "unity, urgency, and determination." She pointed out that the shift in international order is not only shocking but also permanent, and Europe must adapt to this reality.
According to CCTV News, on the 17th local time, U.S. President Trump stated on his social platform "Truth Social" that starting February 1, 2026, all goods exported to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland will be subject to an additional 10% tariff. From June 1, 2026, the tariff rate will rise to 25%. The market is now closely watching Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos later Wednesday for any signals that could ease the situation. EU leaders are also scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss potential retaliatory measures.
This dispute has already caused a substantial impact on transatlantic economic relations. The European Parliament is prepared to postpone the approval vote for a major EU-US trade agreement. Von der Leyen warned that a dangerous vicious cycle between allies is not only wrong but will also embolden opponents that both sides are committed to resisting.
The Permanent Shift in International Order
In her speech, von der Leyen admitted that the world order Europe spent decades building in cooperation with the U.S. is gone for good. She stated bluntly:
“The world today is defined by raw power.”
Although many may not like this reality, Europe must face the truth. These remarks indicate that, in the face of Trump’s global offensive, the EU is under pressure to adopt tougher countermeasures and its strategy is undergoing significant adjustment.
Regarding the specific tariff threat, von der Leyen considered it "completely wrong," as the EU and the US share the same strategic assessment of Arctic security. She reiterated her view from Tuesday’s speech in Davos that confrontation between allies will only embolden common strategic adversaries.
Supporting Greenland with an Investment Wave
According to Xinhua News Agency, European Commission President von der Leyen announced in Strasbourg, France on the 21st that the EU will greatly increase investment in Greenland. Previously, Trump had directly linked tariffs to the intention of purchasing Greenland, which is not only an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark but also part of the EU.
In addition, due to the Greenland crisis, the European Parliament is currently preparing to postpone a vote to approve a major EU-US trade agreement. This move shows that geopolitical friction has already directly affected the core of the bilateral trade agenda.
Besides an economic counterattack, the EU is also reassessing its security architecture. Von der Leyen revealed that the EU will work on formulating a new security strategy and strengthen security arrangements with the UK, Canada, Norway, and Iceland in the coming months. She emphasized:
“I believe Europe itself must re-evaluate its broader security strategy. The world is changing so fast, Europe must now change along with it.”
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