Latest news with #Brüssel
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New German chancellor Merz calls on EU to scrap supply chain law
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called for the cancellation of the European Union's supply chain law during his inaugural visit to Brussels as head of government. "We will revoke the national law in Germany. And I also expect the European Union to follow suit and really cancel this directive," he said, speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The so-called Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is part of von der Leyen's long-term push for more sustainable and climate-friendly regulations. The law, this was adopted last year and is to be applied from 2028, aims to strengthen human rights worldwide. Large companies are to be held accountable for human rights violations in their supply chains including child or forced labour. Some companies however see the directive as adding excessive requirements that would impose bureaucratic burdens and reduce Europe's competitiveness. Merz welcomed the commission's effort to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in other areas.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany's Merz backs zero tariffs between US and EU in Trump call
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the lifting of all tariffs between the United States and the European Union in his first telephone call with US President Donald Trump. "I told him that I don't think it's a good idea to escalate this customs dispute," Merz said in Brussels on Friday, speaking alongside European Council President Antonio Costa. "The best solution would be down to zero for everything and for everyone." "My view is and remains that such a customs dispute can only harm us all and ultimately benefits no one," Merz added during his first visit to the Belgian capital as chancellor. Merz spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office in Berlin. He said Trump invited him to Washington during the phone call on Thursday, with the German leader also inviting the president to Berlin. The comments came as the EU seeks to settle an ongoing trade dispute with the US administration under Trump, which has imposed a blanket 10% duty on all imports and threatened further measures. In April, Trump paused special levies on imports from most trading partners, including the EU, for 90 days, prompting the bloc to suspend its planned counter-tariffs to allow for further talks. Amid the negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered Washington a "zero-for-zero tariff agreement." But on Thursday, the commission unveiled plans to impose additional counter-tariffs on US goods if talks with Washington do not lead to a solution to the trade conflict.
