Germany's economic ties with US will be complex, CDU leader says

The leader of Germany's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) Friedrich Merz believes that future economic cooperation with the United States will grow in complexity - regardless of who wins the presidential election in November.

If Democratic candidate Kamala Harris wins the November 5 vote, things will be a little "friendlier," Merz predicted on Saturday at the party conference of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

But if Republican runner Donald Trump wins, it will be "pretty unfriendly," Merz said. However, the end result would be "the same" in both cases.

Regardless of the US election outcome, Germany should prepare for the fact that any new US administration will focus far more on the Asia-Pacific region economically than on the transatlantic region, said Merz, who is aiming to become chancellor in next year's elections.

Former US president Barack Obama had already initiated a stronger economic focus on the Pacific.

The phase of globalization of open markets appears to be "over for the time being," according to Merz, with a nod to signs from both China and the US.

Meanwhile, Merz said a government led by either Harris or Trump was likely to tell Europeans: "Take a little more care of yourselves. Take a little more responsibility for yourselves."

"With [incumbent President] Joe Biden, we have probably seen the last president in the White House who is more economically focussed on the transatlantic region," said Merz.