Overview
- Lars Klingbeil is in Toronto for talks with officials and industry, including meetings with Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne, a Bombardier visit and the Global Progress Summit.
- He cast the outreach to Canada as a way to build resilience and back rule‑based trade, with cooperation focused on defense equipment, rare earth supplies and artificial intelligence.
- He learned during the flight that the Bundesrat blocked the proposed €1,000 tax‑free payment that firms could grant and then deduct, a clear setback for the governing coalition.
- In Toronto he said he is ready to negotiate with the states and to consider other relief options, with coalition leaders set to weigh next steps.
- At the summit he promoted tax cuts for low and middle earners, higher taxes on the very rich and a €500 billion infrastructure fund to speed up visible results at home.