Trump tariffs shift shows benefits of EU unity, says German chancellor-designate Merz - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Trump tariffs shift shows benefits of EU unity, says German chancellor-designate Merz

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 9, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: April 9, 2025

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Merz: EU Unity Key in Trump's Tariff Pause Decision

BERLIN (Reuters) - Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, said U.S. President Donald Trump's pause of tariffs for 90 days was evidence of a united European approach to trade having a positive effect, and called for tariff-free U.S.-EU trade.

"Europeans are determined to defend ourselves and this example shows that unity helps most of all," he told TV show RTL Direkt in an interview following his conservative bloc's sealing of a coalition deal with the Social Democrats.

"Let's all set tariffs of 0% on transatlantic trade, and then the problem will be solved," he added.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Thomas Escritt)

Key Takeaways

  • Trump pauses tariffs for 90 days.
  • Merz credits EU unity for tariff pause.
  • Calls for 0% tariffs on US-EU trade.
  • Merz's coalition deal with Social Democrats.
  • EU's united trade approach proves effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The main topic is the impact of EU unity on Trump's decision to pause tariffs and the call for tariff-free US-EU trade.
What did Friedrich Merz say about EU unity?
Merz stated that EU unity was crucial in influencing Trump's decision to pause tariffs, showing its positive effect.
What solution does Merz propose for trade issues?
Merz proposes setting tariffs at 0% on transatlantic trade to resolve trade issues between the US and EU.

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