Germany’s Friedrich Merz says US tech perks could be target in trade war

The European Union could retaliate against US technology companies if the trade conflict with Donald Trump’s administration escalates, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

While the leader of Europe’s largest economy aims to reduce tariffs and defuse tensions with the White House, he said that the bloc would need to protect its interests and pointed to the US surplus in services trade with the EU.

“At the moment, we strongly protect US tech companies — also on taxes,” Merz said Monday in Berlin at the WDR Europaforum conference. “That…