Merz Urges Quick Trade Deal with US

(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed on Thursday his preference for a "quick and simple" commercial agreement with the United States over a "slow and complicated" one, as the deadline for further tariffs on the European Union approaches rapidly.

"We have less than two weeks until July 9," Merz noted during a media briefing at the EU summit in Brussels, referring to the looming tariff cutoff.

"We must now reach a quick result, we all agree on that, there is no dissent," he emphasized.

His comments followed EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement that the bloc had received the latest proposal from the US and is currently reviewing it for ongoing discussions.

Last month, US President Donald Trump warned of implementing a 50 percent immediate tariff on the EU starting June 1, stating that the commercial discussions were "going nowhere."

However, after a conversation with von der Leyen, Trump postponed the imposition of the new tariff to July 9.

At the same time, the White House indicated Thursday that Trump might push back his timeline for enforcing reciprocal tariffs.

When questioned about whether the president remains dedicated to finalizing trade arrangements by the set date, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded that the timeline is "not critical."

"Perhaps it (deadline) could be extended, but that’s a decision for the president to make," Leavitt added.

Negotiations between the two sides are continuing, with the EU aiming for a more favorable agreement.

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