Germany and France Reject U.S. Tariff Pressure, Signal Firm EU Response

European finance ministers say the EU will not be “blackmailed” by U.S. tariff threats as Brussels weighs countermeasures and long-term economic resilience.

By: Haitian Prime News|January 19, 2026|Brussels, Belgium

Germany and France said on Sunday that they will not allow themselves to be pressured by the United States through tariff threats, underscoring a hardened European stance amid renewed trade tensions with Washington.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and French Finance Minister Roland Lescure made the remarks after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he could raise tariffs in connection with disputes involving Greenland. Klingbeil said Germany and France were fully aligned, stressing that Europe would not accept economic coercion.

European Union leaders are expected to meet at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss possible response options. Among the tools under consideration is the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, which Lescure said should be viewed primarily as a deterrent rather than an immediate act of retaliation.

One option being examined is a previously suspended tariff package covering approximately 93 billion euros worth of U.S. imports. The package could automatically be reactivated on February 6 if the current six-month suspension expires without a resolution.

Officials said the Anti-Coercion Instrument could allow the EU to restrict access to public tenders, limit investment or banking activity, and impose constraints on trade in services. Klingbeil cautioned, however, that further escalation would damage both European and American economies, while emphasizing the need to defend European sovereignty.

Looking beyond immediate trade reprisals, European ministers said the EU must strengthen itself economically, politically, and in terms of security. Lescure noted that Europe’s broader objective is to firmly but diplomatically challenge the U.S. position, adding that EU leaders intend to convince U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that the current approach is misguided.

The dispute highlights growing strains in transatlantic trade relations and reflects the EU’s increasing readiness to deploy defensive economic measures in response to perceived external pressure.

Sources

Reuters