# Greenland: Trump’s Tariff Threats Rattle Asian Markets

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/markets/280092-greenland-trumps-tariff-threats-rattle-asian-markets
- Published: 2026-01-19T14:43:28+07:00
- Author: Fang Zhang

Global financial markets, particularly across Asia, experienced a significant downturn
on Monday, January 19, 2026, driven by escalating tensions between Donald Trump 
and European nations concerning Greenland.

The looming threat of customs duties from Trump against the European Union has rattled
investors, leading to a flight towards safe-haven assets. European and American 
markets are anticipated to follow this downward trend.

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Key market reactions observed include:

 * **Asian Stock Markets:** Major indices registered declines, with Tokyo’s Nikkei
   falling by 0.97% (Topix by 0.47%) and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropping by
   1.05%. The Sydney market also saw a 0.40% decrease.
 * **Korean Market:** Seoul’s market presented a contrasting picture, initially 
   starting in the red but recovering significantly to close with a gain of nearly
   1.3%.
 * **Currencies:** The US dollar weakened, losing 0.32% against the Japanese yen,
   trading at 157.60 yen for one dollar.
 * **Cryptocurrency:** Bitcoin, considered a riskier asset, also suffered, plummeting
   by 3% to reach $92,532.

In contrast to the broader market decline, safe-haven assets surged to new record
highs as investors sought security amidst the uncertainty:

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 * **Gold:** Spot gold climbed 1.6% to $4,668 per ounce in Singapore, having reached
   an earlier peak of $4,690.
 * **Silver:** Silver saw an even more substantial jump, rising 3.2% to $93.0211,
   after peaking at $94.1213.
 * **Other Precious Metals:** Platinum and palladium also registered gains, underscoring
   the shift in investor sentiment.

The root cause of this market volatility lies in a renewed diplomatic standoff over
the weekend between Donald Trump and European partners concerning Greenland. This
unprecedented situation marks the first instance in NATO’s history where a founding
member has threatened to annex an ally’s territory, primarily leveraging customs
threats as pressure.