On January 17, 2026, Eastern Time, US President Trump announced via social media that he would impose tariffs on all goods imported from eight countries - Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland - in an attempt to pressure Denmark to agree to the "complete and thorough purchase" of Greenland by the United States. This economic and trade coercion centered around territorial claims quickly triggered a strong response from the European Union, and global trade faced a new shockwave. 

Tariff schedule and the European rebound 

In his statement, Trump clearly outlined the escalating tariff plan: starting from February 1, 2026, a 10% tariff will be imposed; from June 1, it will be raised to 25%, until a purchase agreement for the island is reached. Greenland, as an autonomous territory of Denmark, is rich in mineral resources and has an important strategic location. The US has long coveted it. Recently, eight European countries held joint military exercises in Greenland to support Denmark's sovereignty, which became the direct trigger for this tariff action. 

The EU responded promptly. On January 18th, a 27-member member state emergency meeting discussed the resumption of a $93 billion anti-US tariff list and considered activating the "anti-coercion tool". The joint statement of the eight European countries condemned the US actions as "blackmail aimed at undermining the transatlantic relationship". The Danish prime minister explicitly stated that "Europe will not be blackmailed", and French President Macron promised to push the EU to take the toughest countermeasures. 

Simultaneous pressure in the chip sector 

Almost simultaneously, the United States imposed new pressure in the semiconductor sector. On January 16th, the US Commerce Secretary warned that if South Korean memory chip manufacturers did not increase production capacity in the US, they would face tariffs as high as 100%. This move was interpreted as "market exchange for production capacity", with the intention of prompting global chip manufacturing to shift to the US mainland. 

In the face of pressure, SK Hynix of South Korea chose to increase its investment in the domestic market and announced the construction of a new advanced packaging factory in Cheongju to consolidate its technological advantages and supply chain security. Meanwhile, Micron Technology of the United States launched a $100 billion wafer factory project in New York State, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in the storage chip market. 

The global trade order is facing a test. 

From the dispute over Greenland to the chip competition, the current trade frictions have transcended the simple economic realm and involve multiple battles over sovereignty, strategic resources, and industrial dominance. The unilateral actions of the Trump administration may force the EU to employ new trade countermeasures, and the geopolitical fragmentation risks in the chip industry may push up the cost of global technological development. 

As the first round of tariffs comes into effect on February 1st, the EU's countermeasures are also imminent. This trade storm triggered by territorial claims not only tests the transatlantic relationship, but also may have a profound impact on the rule-based multilateral trading system, warning that the world trade order is facing severe pressure for a reconfiguration. 

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