Merz to Trump: Give us ‘zero’ tariffs

BRUSSELS ― German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Donald Trump to end his trade war and eliminate tariffs.

“I told him that, in my view, escalating this customs dispute is not a good idea,” Merz said at press conference in Brussels. “The best solution would be ‘down to zero’ for everything and for everyone.”

Merz spoke to the U.S. president during a phone call on Thursday. On Friday, he visited the Belgian capital for meetings with EU and NATO bosses.

“At least in the short term, I hope we can make steps on lowering the existing tariffs,” Merz said alongside European Commission President Von der Leyen. “And in the long term also on a trade deal.”

Merz stressed the EU and U.S. should have a mutual zero-for-zero deal, something the Commission has also floated on industrial goods. It contrasts with Trump’s narrow new trade deal with the U.K., which keeps the 10 percent tariffs on British most goods in place, and which Merz praised on Friday.

The new chancellor also lamented that previous talks on a transatlantic trade deal never concluded. “Today we know, how valuable that could have been,” he said. “Sadly, that’s spilt milk.”

Merz argued that aside from tariffs, the EU should offer “broad recognition” of technical standards because of “great potential for opening up of markets.” An example would be rules around cars.

When speaking to Trump, Merz said he made sure to point out the American president will have to deal with the EU and not individual member countries. “The closest trading partner for the U.S. is not Germany, France or Poland—it’s Europe and the European Union,” he said.

Nette Nöstlinger contributed to this report.