Conservative leader tells lawmakers agreement has vital importance for an export-oriented country like Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is "cautiously optimistic" that an agreement can be reached in the coming days in the tariffs dispute between the US and the European Union (EU).
During a budget session in the Federal Parliament, Chancellor Merz emphasized that swiftly reaching an agreement with the US on customs tariffs is vitally important for an export-oriented country like Germany.
"I am, in any case, cautiously optimistic that we could succeed in reaching an agreement with the US in the coming days, at the latest by the end of the month. This is primarily in the interest of our export-oriented economy,” he said.
Merz highlighted the impact of the tariff dispute on jobs and national prosperity, specifically mentioning the chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, steel, and aluminum industries as sectors at risk.
He informed lawmakers that intensive negotiations have been underway for days between the European Commission and the US administration. Merz also mentioned that he is in close contact with both US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"Our goal is to reach a trade agreement with the US as quickly as possible that establishes the lowest possible tariff rates for mutual trade between America and the European Union," he said, and underlined the importance of unity among the EU member states.
"Achieving this goal is not easy given the current demands of the American government. But we will only achieve this goal if we, as Germany, approach this task in close cooperation with our European partners and neighbors. Germany alone would achieve nothing on this path," he stressed.
