German minister: EU must become stronger in Trump tariff talks

Containers are stacked, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, in the harbour of Duisburg, Germany, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the European Union had been too weak during trade negotiations with the United States and it should become stronger, as much still needed to be clarified on the deal the two sides struck last month.

"Overall, as Europeans, we must become stronger," Klingbeil said in Washington ahead of a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.