The United States should not "underestimate" Europe's readiness to hit back if planned 30% tariffs on EU goods take effect, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday. The US government should know that Europe is ready to "to respond to excessively high customs burdens with similar measures,

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the broadcaster ARD that President Trump's threat of 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union as of Aug. 1 would hit the German export industry "to the core," and he vowed to work toward a solution.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he will work intensively with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the escalating trade war with the United States.