Friedrich Merz, in a recent interview with Handelsblatt, asserted that the current policies of U.S. President Donald Trump elevate the probability of an earlier-than-anticipated financial crisis. Merz also expressed his desire for a renewed transatlantic free-trade agreement, advocating for the elimination of all tariffs to benefit both the United States and Europe. He further stated that should the U.S. withdraw from global trade, Europe would need to prioritize non-U.S. markets and develop a compelling strategic response. Market reaction to the U.S. tariffs news has resulted in a 0.23% decline in the EUR/USD exchange rate, trading near 1.1330.
