Merz, Macron seek tougher EU measures against unfair trade

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for the European Union to adopt tougher measures against unfair trade practices by other nations. The joint appeal, sent to the European Commission on Monday, noted that existing EU instruments are insufficient to address the issue. While the letter did not single out a specific country, it seemed to target China's trade policies and the EU's dependence on certain raw materials.

The US, under President Donald Trump, was also mentioned as a potential target due to its unpredictable trade policy. The letter was written before the EU's trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, is scheduled to visit China. The proposed measures include diversifying supply chains and allowing the EU to exclude a country from the single market swiftly if exceptional circumstances arise.

Merz and Macron emphasized that the EU's reliance on specific suppliers of essential materials poses significant geoeconomic risks. They warned that the open and rules-based trading system is being compromised by trade instrumentalization, systemic market-distorting practices, and global macroeconomic imbalances. The letter, known as a "non-paper," is meant to initiate discussions without officially committing to a position.