Trump tariffs shift shows benefits of EU unity, says German chancellor-designate Merz

BERLIN, April 9 (Reuters) - Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, said U.S. President Donald Trump's pause of tariffs for 90 days was evidence of a united European approach to trade having a positive effect, and called for tariff-free U.S.-EU trade.

"Europeans are determined to defend ourselves and this example shows that unity helps most of all," he told TV show RTL Direkt in an interview following his conservative bloc's sealing of a coalition deal with the Social Democrats.

"Let's all set tariffs of 0% on transatlantic trade, and then the problem will be solved," he added.