German Chancellor Merz: EU may retaliate against US tech companies with tariffs

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German Chancellor Merz: EU may retaliate against US tech companies with tariffs

Merz called on Europeans to unite and show confidence in the face of the tariff dispute with the US, saying the EU could retaliate against US technology companies if the trade dispute with the Trump administration escalates.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Europeans to show unity and self-confidence in the face of the tariff dispute with the United States, saying the European Union (EU) could retaliate against US technology companies if the trade dispute with the Donald Trump administration escalates.
Friedrich Merz said at the European Forum event organized by the West German Radio and Television Corporation (WDR), referring to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats, "We are not begging. Let's not make ourselves smaller than we are."

Pointing out that Europe, with its 500 million consumers, is the second-largest market for many US companies after the United States, Merz said that the EU must protect its own interests.
Merz said, "Right now, we are saving American technology companies a lot of money in terms of taxes. This does not have to stay like this; it can be changed."

Stating that he fully supports the approach of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the tariff dispute with the US, Merz reiterated Germany's stance that it will not enter into side agreements but will allow the EU to handle trade issues.
"We must not react carelessly and hastily. In our view, tariffs will hurt us. But if we cannot do anything else, we must use this tool (retaliation against US technology companies)."

Merz said that he takes Trump's statements very seriously "even though he knows they will not have a long shelf life," adding that additional tariffs are in nobody's interest.