Trump’s tariffs add urgency to Germany’s coalition talks, says Merz

BERLIN — German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz says Donald Trump’s tariffs, and their ruinous effect on Germany’s stock market, emphasize the need for tax cuts and deregulation.

Germany’s main stock index was one of the worst affected in Europe on Monday, dropping 10 percent before recovering some ground, as investors responded to the president’s announcement of blanket import tariffs that seem set to realign the world economy.

“The situation on the international equity and bond markets is dramatic and threatens to get worse,” Merz said Monday. “It’s more important than ever for Germany to restore its competitiveness. That must be at the heart of coalition talks.”

The German economy’s strength lies in exporting goods such as machinery, chemicals and vehicles, and the United States is a key market. German exports have already become less competitive in recent years due to higher energy prices and other factors, and the 20 percent tariff implemented by the Trump administration is further unwelcome news for industry.

The market shock added new urgency to coalition negotiations between Merz’s center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), following national elections on Feb. 23.

The CDU came out ahead in the vote but failed to win a majority, forcing Merz into talks with the SPD to form a government. Coalition negotiations were briefly paused Monday as Merz, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and SPD leaders held consultations on how to respond to the United States measures, German media report.

Merz, a longtime fiscal hawk, has already faced internal pushback after endorsing a constitutional amendment to allow up to €1 trillion in new debt — a key SPD and Green Party demand. His comments on Monday aimed to reassert the CDU’s traditional focus on fiscal and economic discipline amid a shifting global landscape.