Greenland, Trump tariffs: builders alarm

The automotive world can do better. In a trade war between United States And European Union you can also decide not to cynically protect only money, but instead choose to defend interests that have to do with men and communities. This is the consideration that gives rise to the questionable alarm launched by the association of German car manufacturers Vda, worried about a “huge effect” on the German and European economy of the sector due to tariffs imposed by the United States from February 1st. To be hit, Germany And Francebut also United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Holland And Finlandthat is, all the countries that in Washington’s eyes were responsible for sending troops to support Greenland’s territorial autonomy. There additional fee of 10% naturally also applies to goods imported into the States that come from Denmarkthe nation to which the Arctic island that President Trump claims belongs. In case he is not satisfied, the occupant of the White House has already announced the increase of these duties from 10% to 25% starting from 1 June 2026. Faced with the rights of the 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland, which have become the subject of propaganda, it remains truly difficult to understand the timing and appropriateness of the message of the German car manufacturers’ association VDA. “What is crucial now is a rapid and intelligent response from the European Union institutions in Brussels, in coordination with the countries involved,” underlines the president of the VDA Hildegard Müller in a note written, it must be said, with too much haste and little knowledge of the facts.

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The VDA association ignores, or pretends to ignore, that it is no longer up to them to negotiate European Commission led by the German Ursula von der Leyenalready responsible for having signed last July and amid much controversy a commercial agreement with the States which allowed the States to apply a additional customs fee of 15% on goods exported from the European Union to the USA. In recent days this agreement should have been ratified by European Parliamentwhich precisely as a result of the further application of duties by Donald Trump decided on blocking of the procedurewith immediate effect and on the initiative of Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in terms of number of seats in Parliament. The “rapid and intelligent response” requested by VDA president Hildegard Mueller, therefore, has arrived. But it’s not a surrender. “The prediction of an increase in duties against those nations that have chosen to contribute to the security of Greenland is a mistake and I do not agree with it”, this is the comment of the Prime Minister Giorgia Melonitraditionally close to President Trump, but not unaware of the stakes. Which is first of all human, automotive much much later.