Merz to Present United European Front on Tariffs to Trump
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington in early March with a coordinated European position to discuss tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump, following a recent Supreme Court ruling impacting the administration’s trade policies.
Supreme Court Ruling and Trump’s Response
The U.S. Supreme Court recently delivered a blow to President Trump’s sweeping duties, leading to a ruling that limits the administration’s tariff authority. Following this decision, Trump swiftly imposed a 10% tariff on all imports, which was then raised to 15% on Saturday. This action prompted concern from European leaders.
A Coordinated European Approach
Chancellor Merz emphasized the importance of a unified European response, stating, “I will head to Washington with a coordinated European position,” as reported by Politico. He stressed that tariff policy is a matter for the European Union as a whole, not individual member states. “We will have a extremely clear European position on this, because customs policy is a matter for the European Union, not for individual member states,” Merz told ARD broadcaster.
Impact of Tariffs
Merz argued that tariffs ultimately harm the country imposing them. While Germany bears a portion of the burden through reduced exports, American consumers ultimately pay higher prices. He noted that tariffs “primarily harm the country that levies the tariffs.”
Positive Outlook on U.S. Institutions
Despite the imposition of new tariffs, Merz viewed the Supreme Court’s decision as a positive development, stating, “The separation of powers in the USA still appears to function, and that is good news.” He described the ruling as “interesting”, suggesting it sets limits on the Trump administration’s tariff policy.
Previous Meetings and Future Discussions
Merz previously met with Trump at the White House in June 2025. He intends to leverage the upcoming meeting to reiterate that tariffs are detrimental to all parties involved. “I will try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone,” Merz emphasized.