09-05-2025
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.
