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Merz Urges EU to Lead Asian Free-Trade Deal

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a global free-trade order in Seoul.
Merz said the EU is ready to lead a trade deal for Asian countries under pressure.
Merz warned that US-China competition, tariffs, tech decoupling and raw-material races are reshaping trade rules.
Merz urged an EU-CPTPP free-trade agreement in Singapore, noting the UK is the only European signatory.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a global free-trade order in Seoul.
Merz said the EU is ready to lead a trade deal for Asian countries under pressure.
Merz warned that US-China competition, tariffs, tech decoupling and raw-material races are reshaping trade rules.
Merz urged an EU-CPTPP free-trade agreement in Singapore, noting the UK is the only European signatory.