“Everything must be prepared now,” he added, while also emphasizing “we are ready to find solutions. We are extending our hand, but we are not prepared to be blackmailed.”
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office had announced Sunday that France would ask the EU to activate the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, nicknamed the trade bazooka.
Germany is usually more reluctant to take such far-reaching measures, not least to protect its ailing and export-dependent economy. But Klingbeil’s latest comments signal a willingness to take a harder line with Washington — at least on the part of his Social Democrats, that govern in a coalition government with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives.
“We are constantly experiencing new provocations. We are constantly experiencing new antagonism, which President Trump is seeking. And here we Europeans must make it clear that the limit has been reached,” Klingbeil said.
All eyes are now on Merz, who will speak to journalists later on Monday and has in the past been more conciliatory toward the Trump administration than the center-left vice chancellor.
Nitimur__In__Vetitum on January 20th, 2026 at 17:33 UTC »
Trump accomplished what Putin and Xi could not. Trump is the newest and greatest example of a Trojan Horse.
EndOfDecadence on January 20th, 2026 at 17:28 UTC »
As an European, I really do believe we are witnessing history. European politicians are tired and fed up with the bootlicking, Greenland and the tariffs are the drop that will flood the bucket. Since Trump is physically unable to deescalate his speech will definitely cross a new red line, which will make it even easier to sell EU measures at home.
We are witnessing the definitive end of the alliance this week.
1-randomonium on January 20th, 2026 at 17:17 UTC »
(Submission Statement)
Germany's finance minister has backed France on the deployment of a so-called trade “bazooka” to strike back at Washington if Trump presses ahead with his threats of increased tariffs against EU countries over Greenland.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office had previously announced that France would ask the EU to activate the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, a tool that would grant the EU sweeping powers to impose tariffs and other sanctions on the United States and on American companies operating in the EU. It was originally created during Trump's first term to be used against China and, in the event of a trade war, against America, but has never been activated until now.
This is significant because Germany is usually more reluctant than France to take such far-reaching measures, not least to protect its ailing and export-dependent economy.