Norway has stepped up its diplomatic response to recently imposed American trade measures, with State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik traveling to Washington this week for a series of high-level meetings with US officials. At the centre of the discussions were the new US tariffs, an ongoing Section 301 investigation, and the broader bilateral trade relationship between the two nations.
Kravik met with US Deputy Trade Representative Jeff Goettman, where he reiterated Norway’s firm opposition to the US measures and called for continued dialogue on trade and market access. The talks come in the wake of Washington’s announcement on July 24 of new tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, a list that includes both Norway and the European Union.
Norway Rejects Justification Behind the US Tariffs
The United States has linked the new tariff measures, in part, to concerns over what it describes as insufficient restrictions on imports of products made using forced labour. Norway has pushed back firmly against this characterisation.
The Norwegian Embassy in Washington stated that there is no basis for treating Norway differently from the European Union, pointing out that Norway operates under the same regulatory framework through the European Economic Area Agreement. This position was echoed at the ministerial level, with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide saying that Oslo strongly disagrees with both the unilateral use of tariffs and the justification behind applying them to Norway.
Section 301 Investigation Also in the Crosshairs
Beyond the tariff announcement, Kravik also challenged the basis of the US Section 301 investigation into global industrial overcapacity, a probe that covers Norway, the EU, and 14 other countries. Norway has rejected claims that its policies contribute to global overcapacity, arguing instead that Norwegian companies operate in direct response to market demand, not as a result of state-driven distortions.
Possibility of a Trade Agreement Raised
The prospect of a formal trade agreement between Norway and the United States was also raised during the Washington visit. Foreign Minister Eide made clear that any such agreement would need to genuinely serve Norway’s national interests, and that Oslo would not enter into an arrangement at any price.
Eide also warned that ongoing US tariff policy continues to generate uncertainty, not just for countries like Norway that are actively resisting the measures, but even for nations that have already concluded trade agreements with Washington. This concern around market access and policy unpredictability formed a significant thread running through the visit.
Broader Engagement During the Washington Visit
During his time in Washington, Kravik also met US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to address bilateral relations and wider geopolitical matters. He additionally held discussions with representatives of Norwegian businesses to hear firsthand how the US tariffs are affecting companies operating in or trading with the American market, and he met with media representatives as part of the engagement.
The Norwegian government stated that the visit is part of its sustained efforts to protect the country’s economic interests and maintain close contact with US counterparts on trade and market access issues.
Following the meetings, Kravik described the discussions as constructive, while confirming that Norway would continue its active dialogue with Washington over both the Section 301 investigations and broader trade matters between the two countries.
