President Donald Trump is on his way to the annual World Economic Forum event in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, where he is likely to once more press his case to expand the territory of the United States in the biggest way in decades by acquiring Denmark's Greenland territory.
He may get a frosty reception.
Trump is due to give a keynote speech and will meet with world leaders at the summit. He is threatening to impose a 10% tariff on "any and all goods" imported to the U.S. from eight European countries, effective Feb. 1, if he doesn't get his way. European officials say they are ready to push back, threatening a new trade war. Trump has said that the tariff would increase to 25% on June 1 if a deal to purchase the Arctic island is not reached.
Is a takeover coming? US, European nations send troops to Greenland
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union's top official, said on Jan. 21 that Europe "prefers dialogue and solutions − but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency and determination." One idea under consideration by European officials is a so-called anti-coercion instrument that would see the EU impose sweeping tariffs worth $107 billion on U.S. goods such as such as bourbon, airplane components, soybeans and poultry.
