Germany's Merz to meet with steel, auto executives to discuss support measures (updated)

Salzgitter AG

03/09/2025 19:18

Adds Merz comments in paragraphs 3-5

FRANKFURT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will soon meet with executives of the steel and automotive sectors in two separate summits to discuss how to provide support in times of high costs and tariffs, he said on Wednesday.

Merz, who did not provide dates, said it was absolutely essential to strengthen Germany's economy, the world's third-largest after the United States and China, in light of growing competition from abroad.

"The German steel industry is in a difficult situation," Merz said, citing extremely high U.S. import duties.

"I want us to maintain steel production in Germany long term. We want to discuss how we can achieve this goal with producers and worker representatives."

Turning to the struggling auto sector, Merz said the planned summit would include automotive suppliers, not just automakers, adding that makers of car parts were "massively suffering" under the industry's crisis.

 (Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Jan Harvey and Leslie Adler)

 ((christoph.steitz@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 220 133 647;))