The European Union has agreed to extend its pause on retaliatory trade measures against the United States until August 1, aiming to buy more time for negotiations after President Donald Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on EU goods over the weekend.
Speaking to ARD on Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that such tariffs would have severe consequences for Europe’s largest economy. “It would overshadow everything and strike at the heart of Germany’s export sector,” he said.
Merz emphasized that Germany is working closely with other EU leaders to avoid the tariffs altogether. “That requires two things: unity in the European Union and good lines of communication with the American president,” the chancellor said.
He confirmed that counter-tariffs are on the table, but not before August 1. “Yes, but not before then,” Merz noted when asked about potential EU retaliation. Over the weekend, he held intensive talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and also spoke directly with Trump on Friday.
“We want to use this window — the next two and a half weeks — to find a solution,” Merz said. “I’m fully committed to that.”
The extension of the EU’s pause on countermeasures underscores the urgency to reach a deal that could prevent a major escalation in transatlantic trade tensions.
