Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said Germany, Europe’s largest economy, was ready to take over a greater leadership role on future trade agreements as the United States and the EU race to reach a trade deal before a July 9 deadline.
Merz told reporters he had a productive meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, and the two men had agreed to strengthen cooperation on trade matters and other issues.
Merz said he and Trump spoke at length about trade and tariffs during their meeting in the Oval Office, and over an extended lunch, where Merz said he highlighted the manufacturing facilities operated by German automakers in the United States.
“We will send officials to further deepen these topics. We want to reach a mutual solution,” Merz told reporters after the meeting, noting that while the European Union was responsible for setting trade policy, Germany had a significant role to play given the size of its exports.
Trump has set a July 9 deadline for the 27-bloc European Union and other trading partners to reach trade deals and avert steep tariffs. U.S. and EU officials met in Paris on Wednesday and said negotiations were constructive and advancing quickly.
