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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Saturday that he is coordinating with European allies to establish a unified response to the latest U.S. tariff hikes.
Speaking to broadcaster ARD, Merz emphasised that trade policy remains a collective European Union responsibility rather than an issue for individual nations to handle alone.
This strategic alignment comes as he prepares for an upcoming visit to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump.
The Chancellor’s diplomatic push follows President Trump’s recent decision to impose a 10 per cent duty on imports, a rate he quickly escalated to 15 per cent on Saturday.
These new levies were introduced as an immediate response to a Supreme Court ruling that had dismantled many of the administration’s broader trade restrictions established over the previous year.
Despite the immediate hike in duties, Merz expressed a degree of optimism regarding the long-term outlook for German exporters.
He noted that the Supreme Court’s intervention was a “reassuring” sign that the American system of checks and balances remains functional.
Merz believes the ruling provides a more stable legal framework that could eventually lead to fewer duties for international trade partners by reining in the executive’s ability to impose arbitrary trade barriers.
The Chancellor aims to leverage the economic weight of the entire bloc by coordinating with his EU counterparts before heading to the United States.
His goal is to ensure that Europe speaks with one voice, reinforcing the idea that the EU is a single trading entity that cannot be negotiated with on a country-by-country basis.
