Kingston, Jamaica — Monday 19 January 2026
The United States and several European countries are moving toward a fresh tariff confrontation after President Donald Trump threatened new import duties on a group of European states in a dispute linked to Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The immediate issue is diplomatic, but the risk to Jamaica is economic: trade conflict between two of the world’s largest markets can tighten global financial conditions, raise import costs, and disturb the investment climate that small, open economies depend on.
Reuters reported that the U.S. president has announced plans for an additional 10% tariff from February 1, 2026, on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain, with a potential increase to 25% from June 1, unless a deal is reached for the U.S. to purchase Greenland. European leaders have criticised the threats and signalled unity in opposing what they frame as co…
