Getting Germany back to growth is the top priority, finmin says

By Maria Martinez

BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - The German government's top priority is to bring Europe's biggest economy back on track for growth, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Thursday.

Speaking at a banking event, Klingbeil said it was important to invest, carry out structural reforms and consolidate the budget.

"It is our top priority to get Germany back on a growth path," Klingbeil said. "The most important thing is that we preserve jobs in our country and ensure that people in this country have security."

Germany failed to grow for the last two years and U.S. tariffs would deal a major blow to its export-oriented economy.

"My deep conviction is that the current plans of the U.S. government will put jobs and growth at risk on our side as well as on theirs," Klingbeil said.

The EU and the U.S. are negotiating a tariff deal before a July 9 deadline, when U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs to as much as 50%.

Klingbeil said the EU must not rely solely on the U.S. and that it was important to strengthen and diversify trade relations.