The agreement reached between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump in trade negotiations has been welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Speaking Sunday evening, Merz emphasized the importance of preventing an “unnecessary escalation” in transatlantic trade relations. He credited the “unity of the European Union” and the “hard work” of the negotiators for the positive outcome.
Merz specifically expressed his gratitude to Ursula von der Leyen and Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič for their “tireless dedication” to the process. He stated the agreement successfully averted a potential trade conflict that could have significantly impacted Germany’s export-dependent economy, particularly the automotive sector, noting a reduction in tariffs within this area from 27.5 percent to 15 percent.
The Chancellor affirmed Germany and the European Union’s commitment to “free and fair global trade” and reiterated his continued support for tariff reductions and the “removal of trade barriers”. This commitment extends to ongoing negotiations concerning additional free trade agreements, notably with the Mercosur countries in South America.
