U.S. media reports that European countries may use one of their powerful trade tools in the tensions with the United States over Greenland.
According to the report, this tool is the "Anti-Coercion Tool," known as a "trade rocket launcher." This tool can restrict certain U.S. access to the EU market or impose export controls, which is just part of its series of potential countermeasures.
According to Bloomberg, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed using this tool during a meeting of EU representatives last Sunday.
Additionally, according to British media reports, the EU is considering imposing tariffs of about 93 billion euros (75.5932 billion yuan) on Washington. However, according to Reuters citing an EU source, compared to the currently very complex anti-coercion measures, the tariff scheme seems to have received broader support as the first reaction.
"Not a Rocket Launcher, but a Water Gun"
Meanwhile, Macron's initiative to use the Anti-Coercion Tool has been mocked by French opposition.
Florian Philippot, leader of the "Patriots" party in France, said: "You will certainly read everywhere that, in response to new tariffs imposed by Trump on Greenland, Macron has requested the activation of the 'Anti-Coercion Tool' and called it the real 'rocket launcher' for the EU's retaliation. But the reality is completely different—it's just a water gun!"
This politician stated that the tool actually means a very complicated and lengthy bureaucratic process, which could take several months, while the U.S. tariffs will come into effect on February 1st next year.
He claimed: "France cannot take any self-defense action alone, because it has already transferred its trade sovereignty to the EU, and the EU only has a big water gun that makes everyone laugh."
Friction within NATO over Greenland
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would impose a 10% tariff on all goods from a number of European countries, which had recently deployed military forces to the island amid tensions over their attempts to control Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. The tariff will take effect on February 1st next year and is planned to increase to 25% on June 1st, 2026.
As tensions escalated due to Trump's statements threatening to control the island, several European countries recently sent troops to Greenland for military exercises.
Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen, following a press conference held in Oslo after his meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, stated that U.S. President Donald Trump is an extraordinary political figure, but the United States is not only represented by the White House.
As the debate over Greenland intensifies, the Norwegian foreign minister commented on the actions of the U.S. government, pointing out that the current situation questions the basic principles of international relations. Rasmussen supported his colleague's view and added that European countries need to do everything possible to uphold these principles. This head of the Danish foreign affairs department emphasized, "In diplomatic terms, the U.S. president is extraordinary, but the United States is not only the president."
Original: toutiao.com/article/7597022020043407891/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.