World trade Merz wants turbo deal with Trump on tariffs
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing for speed in the customs negotiations with the USA. "Better quick and easy now than slow and highly complicated," he said after consultations at an EU summit in Brussels.
27.06.2025, 03:07
SDA
The tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump put German companies at risk. A solution was particularly needed for the automotive industry, the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, mechanical engineering and the steel and aluminum industry.
At the same time, Merz emphasized that he is not criticizing the way the EU Commission is currently conducting the negotiations. "I have only suggested and urged that this should not be made too complicated now," he explained. There are only less than two weeks left until July 9. "And you can't agree an elaborate trade agreement by then."
Deadline expires on July 9
Merz made his comments against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump wanting even more tariffs to come into force from July 9 if the EU does not make concessions to the US on trade issues. The Republican's main justification for his course is that he wants to correct alleged trade imbalances. At the same time, tariff revenues are to be used to at least partially finance his expensive election promise of large tax cuts. The EU Commission, on the other hand, considers the tariffs to be unjustified and incompatible with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In the event that there is no acceptable agreement with the USA, the authority intends to quickly impose counter-tariffs. Merz expressed support for this course. "If there is no agreement on tariffs, then the European Union is prepared and in a position to take appropriate measures of its own," he said after the end of the summit discussions.
The EU Commission is not providing any information on the exact status of the negotiations. However, it confirmed on Thursday that it had received a new US offer for an agreement. It will now be examined.
