German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he will work closely with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the coming weeks to resolve the escalating trade dispute with the United States.
Speaking to ARD (Germany regional public broadcasters), Merz confirmed recent discussions with both European leaders and Trump, aiming to find a solution before Trump's proposed 30% tariffs on EU and Mexican imports take effect on August 1.
Merz warned that Germany’s economy would suffer significantly under such tariffs and stressed the importance of European unity and constructive dialogue with the U.S. While he didn’t rule out retaliatory tariffs, he said any countermeasures—such as those proposed by France—should wait until after the August 1 deadline.
