Economist Podcasts Eye to the chancellor: interviewing Friedrich Merz
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Feb 11, 2025 
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Broken German Business Model
- Germany faces major economic challenges.
- Its business model, reliant on exports, cheap Russian gas, and low defense spending, is broken.
Merz on Tariffs
- Friedrich Merz supports targeted tariffs, citing the EU's response to Trump's 2018 tariffs.
- He believes a united European tariff response can be effective.
Germany's Debt Break
- Germany's debt break restricts deficit financing, hindering crucial investments.
- Merz is unwilling to address this publicly, despite private discussions.