German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that his country will seek “strategic partnerships” with China during a trip next week as he aims to discuss future cooperation between Europe and the world’s second-largest economy at a time when the United States is leaning on tariffs.
“We have a strategic interest in finding partners in the world who think and act like us, and who are willing to shape the future together, so that our country remains prosperous and with a high level of social security,” Merz said during the event in Passau, Bavaria.
Merz emphasized that foreign policy and economic policy can no longer be separated from each other.
“If the Americans believe that, with their tariff policy, they should exert influence around the world, if they believe that tariffs are more important than taxes at home, then that is something that the Americans, of course, can decide for themselves. But it is not our policy,” Merz said.
Germany fears that the tariffs could further damage the country’s already struggling economy.
“You can do it, but we will not agree to this,” Merz said of the tariffs.
“And, if you overdo it, then we Europeans are certainly able to defend ourselves against that,” he underlined.
Merz said Europeans have shown they can act together during a recent escalation related to Greenland and warned that the European Union will respond if Washington raises tariffs again.
“This is our two-pronged strategy: an outstretched hand and, at all times, a renewed partnership. But also enough cohesion and unity within the European Union so that we can defend ourselves sufficiently against the things we don’t want,” he said. (GSF)
