BERLIN聽–聽Germany should look beyond a聽聽between the United States and the European Union that slaps 15% tariffs on EU goods by finding new trade partners in coming years, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday.
鈥淗ow do we handle world trade if for example the Americans are no longer prepared to play by the rules of the World Trade Organization? 鈥 Merz said at a government Open Day, an event where people can visit Berlin institutions and participate in discussions.
鈥淲e should search for partners in the world that share our thinking,鈥 added Mr. Merz , leader of the conservative CDU party whose approval rating stands at 25% – level with Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) – according to an INSA poll published by newspaper Bild this weekend.
The July 28 framework trade deal was brokered between U.S. President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
鈥淲e need good economic relations with the U.S., and we may have got off lightly,鈥 said Mr.聽Merz, noting that trade possibilities might open up in South America, Asia and Africa, and should be of mutual benefit.
鈥淲e must consistently go down that road,鈥 he said.
Mr.聽Merz also said basic questions regarding social security systems needed to be addressed by the end of the year, arguing that the government must rein in welfare spending on employment, pension and health benefits.
鈥淲e have to make our social security systems fit for the future,鈥 he said. 鈥 Reuters
