German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Monday that Germany would seek a unified position with France regarding potential responses to former President Trump's tariff threats. Merz noted that while France's government and president might desire a stronger reaction, both nations are working towards a shared stance to present at the upcoming EU leaders' summit.
Any eventual response will be determined at the EU level, as trade policy is a European Union competence. France and Germany, as the two most populous countries with the largest economies within the bloc, hold significant influence in Brussels.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, from the Social Democrats, expressed a firmer stance during a meeting with his French counterpart, Roland Lescure. Klingbeil stated, "Germany and France are agreed that we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed. We as Europeans must make it clear: the limit has been reached." Lescure, in turn, informed French reporters that "we are ruling nothing out" in their considerations for a response.
Merz affirmed that at a fundamental level, the EU is already united on the issue. He stated, "Among Europeans there is great unanimity that further tariff threats weaken transatlantic relations and do not strengthen them." Merz also indicated his belief that most individuals in America are aware of these risks. He concluded by noting that over the past 12 months, Trump has often threatened significant tariffs but has frequently partially or completely reversed them before implementation.