German Opposition Leader Proposes EU-US Free Trade Talks Ahead of Trump's Return

Friedrich Merz advocates for renewed trade negotiations to counter potential tariffs and bolster EU competitiveness.

Friedrich Merz, Germany's CDU leader and frontrunner for chancellor, has called for a 'positive agenda' with the US, including renewed free trade negotiations.
Merz warns of tougher economic conditions for Europe under Donald Trump's upcoming presidency, citing potential high import tariffs on EU goods.
The proposed trade talks aim to revive discussions on an EU-US free trade agreement, which were halted during Trump’s first term in 2017.
Merz opposes retaliatory tariffs, advocating instead for measures to restore EU competitiveness, such as lowering Germany's corporate tax rate to 25%.
The US remains Germany's largest export market, with trade imbalances and potential tariffs posing significant risks to the German economy.