Friedrich Merz Pushes for EU Trade Independence Beyond the WTO

Merz frames this pivot as a necessary response to mounting external pressures. He specifically highlighted the risks posed by China, pointing to the country’s industrial overcapacity and currency manipulation as direct threats to European firms. The chancellor argues that the EU must broaden its network of allies to counter these systemic imbalances.

Simultaneously, the trans-Atlantic relationship faces its own friction. New U.S. tariff policies have already triggered a measurable cooling in trade volume and technical cooperation between Washington and Brussels. By looking toward partners in the Southern Hemisphere and the Pacific, the EU seeks to mitigate the impact of these protectionist shifts, signaling a transition toward a more autonomous and diversified commercial landscape.