Germany's Merz: EU's approach to US trade talks is 'far too complicated'

BERLIN, June 23 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the European Union's approach to trade negotiations with the United States "far too complicated", saying the bloc should instead focus on reaching agreements for a handful of major sectors.

"The Americans are relatively simply geared towards reaching an agreement with us on four or five major industries," Merz said during an event organised by the BDI industrial lobby.

He said the focus of the European Commission, the executive body which negotiates trade deals for the 27-nation bloc, should be on cars, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and machinery.

President Donald Trump has announced wide-ranging tariffs on trade partners and wants to reduce the U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU.

Trump has hit Europe with a 50% tariff on steel and aluminium and a 25% levy on cars, and the EU is trying to secure a deal before July 9, when reciprocal tariffs on most other goods could rise from 10% to up to 50%.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic earlier on Monday said there were intensive talks with the United States, covering all economic sectors.