Norway Worries US Import Tariffs Will Violate NATO Principles

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide is concerned that the new US import rate will violate NATO's basic principles. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Norway, Thursday (3/4), expressed its concern that the tariffs recently imposed by the US could conflict with the basic principles of NATO, particularly Article 2, which emphasizes economic cooperation among allies to prevent conflict.

"If you want a strong NATO, you have to make sure that there is as much economic growth as possible in NATO countries," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said during a visit to Brussels to attend a NATO meeting, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

"That is the insight of those who founded NATO, that economic cooperation will be good for the entire alliance," he said, as reported by Antara.

He suggested that economic measures that undermine trade between NATO members could weaken the alliance as a whole.

He also confirmed that he plans to raise the matter directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting in Brussels.

US President Donald Trump announced a minimum rate of 10 percent on Wednesday (2/4) for imports from most countries, including the UK, which will take effect on Saturday (5/4).

Although a 10 percent tariff against the UK will be felt, according to British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, British goods importers avoided higher rates, such as the 20 percent tariff imposed on the European Union, 54 percent against China and 46 percent against Vietnam.

The rate has sparked concerns among European leaders, who fear the tariff could burden transatlantic relations as NATO seeks to present a unity front in the face of global security threats.