Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
Friedrich Merz urges swift action on tariffs to enhance Germany's competitiveness amid market turmoil and US tariff threats.
By Andreas Rinke
BERLIN (Reuters) -Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz called on Monday for swift action to secure Germany's competitiveness in response to sliding stock and bond markets, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.
"The situation on the international equity and bond markets is dramatic and threatens to deteriorate further. It is therefore more urgent than ever for Germany to restore its international competitiveness as quickly as possible," Merz said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
"This issue must now be at the centre of the coalition negotiations," he added of his conservative bloc's talks to form a government with the Social Democrats, repeating his party's calls for tax cuts, a reduction in red tape and lower energy prices.
Major stock indexes plunged on Monday as Trump showed no sign of backing away from his tariff plans, and investors bet the mounting risk of recession could see the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates as early as May.
Together with other European Union countries, Germany faces 25% import tariffs on steel and aluminium and cars, and "reciprocal" tariffs of 20% from Wednesday for almost all other goods.
The tariffs only add to Germany's economic headache, muddying attempts by the prospective new coalition government to haul Europe's largest economy out of a two-year-long recession.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray and Sabine Wollrab)
The article discusses Friedrich Merz's call for action on tariffs to boost Germany's competitiveness amid market concerns.
US tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars are adding to Germany's economic challenges, complicating recovery efforts.
Merz suggests tax cuts, reducing red tape, and lowering energy prices to improve competitiveness.
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