As Germany’s Merz meets Trump, these topics are top of his agenda

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Thursday, with a lot to discuss at a time of commercial disputes and war in Europe.

During his two presidential terms, Trump triggered tensions between longtime allies in the United States and the European Union.

“The tone is as rough as it has not been for a long time,” said German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul in a speech on German-American relations earlier this week.

White House civil servants have not always found a friendly words for Berlin in recent months, and vice versa.

But there have been some signs of rapprochement, with the leaders of the country now would have Be on a first name after several phone calls. By relying on this will be an absolute priority for Merz to DC

“The summit of the German chancellor’s agenda will be to hit the right sensitive cord with Trump,” Jörn Fleck, main director of the Atlantic Council, told CNBC.

The conservative opinions of Merz on immigration, its links with American companies – the Chancellor is a former framework of BlackRock – “and a profile as an old -fashioned foreign which was underestimated but won an election by committing to restoring the economy and security of his country”, “could work in his favor, said Fleck.

Germany counted by Exports counts the United States as its biggest Commercial partner, leaving him vulnerable to the Trump’s sales program.

Penny Naas, who directs the allied strategic competitiveness work of the German Marshall fund, told CNBC that this was particularly true for sectoral prices, for example targeting cars and steel.

They “strike industries at the heart of the German economy,” she said.

“Merz will want to see if there is a place for negotiations on these prices”, such as the United States and the EU cutting all industrial tasks to zero, added Naas.

Trump’s so-called reciprocal rates, which have also been imposed on the European Union, should also be on the agenda of Merz, CNBC Franziska Palmas, Economics of Economics in Capital Economics, told CNBC.

“He is likely to highlight his support for free trade and an EU-US trade agreement. He may indicate the EU’s proposal for a zero pricing agreement as an ideal result,” she said.

Negotiations between the EU and the United States have so far been difficult, but European trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic reported on Tuesday that talks “were advancing in the right direction”.

The Russian-Ukraine War will also certainly be discussed, especially after Trump Wednesday phone call With Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European leaders prompted Trump to put Putin pressure, and Merz should follow suit, said Fleck of the Atlantic Council.

Meanwhile, Palmas said that Merz “would probably repeat Germany’s strong support to Ukraine and the need for European countries to participate in peace negotiations”.

Support in the United States in kyiv has been uncertain, as well as the concentration of Trump on the acceleration of peace between Russia and Ukraine – raising concerns in Europe.

Subjects such as American support for European troops on the ground, applying sanctions and sharing information can therefore occur, added Fleck.

GThe recent budgetary reforms of Germany which allow higher defense costs and its support for the target of expenses of 5% of Trump at 5% of NATO, the German Chancellor should have “a positive story to tell” on this front.

The Palmas of Capital Economics have added that Merz could even use the opportunity to announce a specific objective of defense expenses.