On January 19, 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President von der Leyen stated, "There is a 'political divorce' between the US and Europe." She said, "The United States imposing tariffs on several European countries is a serious mistake, and the EU has promised to respond with appropriate, firm, and unified measures."
The response from von der Leyen was in reaction to a new round of tariff threats announced by U.S. President Trump on January 17, 2026, which were tied to the Greenland issue.
The EU's response will be "firm, united, and moderate." She emphasized that "handshake agreements must mean something between allies and friends," and warned that a tariff war would plunge transatlantic relations into a "downward spiral," ultimately harming both sides' interests.
This dispute is a geopolitical pressure tactic using trade tariffs. The EU's response will be based on unity, taking limited but clear countermeasures first, while leaving room for negotiations at the same time.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854864372300864/
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