The European Goods Set to Get Hit With Trump’s Latest Tariffs
The president’s push to acquire Greenland threatens higher prices for luxury imports
President Trump’s threatened 10% tariffs on several European allies in an effort to pressure Denmark into selling Greenland to the U.S. would likely hit a range of luxury and specialty goods.
Among the beloved consumer products that get shipped across the Atlantic: French wines and cheeses, Norwegian salmon, and Bang & Olufsen speakers, assembled in Denmark. (Another Danish favorite, Legos, are manufactured in Mexico and other parts of the world, according to the company.)
Other well-known brands potentially affected by the tariffs include: Leica, Louis Vuitton, Le Creuset and Hermès, each of which keeps much of its core production in Europe.
In a weekend announcement, Trump said goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would be subject to 10% tariffs starting Feb. 1, rising to 25% on June 1.
A lot remains uncertain, however. Trump didn’t specify whether the tariffs would be added on top of existing tariffs—currently 15% for most goods from the European Union and 10% for most U.K. products. His administration agreed to those base levels as part of multibillion-dollar trade and investment deals over the past year.
Also unclear: the legal authority under which Trump would impose the tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule any day on whether many of Trump’s tariffs were imposed improperly last year.
Beyond consumer goods, Europe is a key supplier of high-value manufactured goods. Germany is known for Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches; Sweden for Volvos; and France for Airbus airplanes. While many parts are sourced globally, final assembly and precision engineering frequently remain on the continent.
The U.S. also imports significant quantities of pharmaceuticals from Europe. Companies in the drug sector have been bracing for tariffs since the administration threatened last year to impose duties of up to 100% on name-brand drugs. During the Covid pandemic, the U.S. imported vaccines manufactured in Belgium and Germany.
