US EditionEU must be ready for decisive action over US tariff hike: Germany finance minister
GERMANY, JUL 8 – German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned the EU will retaliate if no fair trade deal is reached with the US, citing potential job and business protections in Europe.
- On July 13, 2025, Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s deputy head of government and head of finance, cautioned in Berlin that the European Union must be ready to implement strong measures if negotiations with the United States over tariffs fail.
- The warning comes after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 30 percent tariffs on imports from the EU starting August 1, following unsuccessful negotiations to secure a broad trade agreement.
- Klingbeil stressed that the EU needs serious negotiations and urged de-escalation, noting tariffs harm European businesses and threaten the American economy alike.
- He stated that Trump's tariffs result in no winners and affirmed that while Europe remains open to negotiations, it will not accept unfavorable terms, highlighting that plans for potential countermeasures are already in progress.
- If no fair solution is reached, Germany and the EU plan decisive measures to protect jobs and businesses, while Germany will also diversify its global trade ties.
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German finance minister: EU must be ready to counter U.S. tariff hike
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday that the European Union must take firm action against the United States if tariff negotiations fail to ease the escalating global trade conflict.President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose
The Star Kuala Lumpur
XinhuaGerman finance minister urges EU to push back if tariff talks with U.S. fail
BERLIN, July 13 (Xinhua) -- German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday that the European Union (EU) must take firm action against the United States if tariff negotiations fail to ease the escalating global trade conflict, according to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Read full story
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