On May 9, local time, German Chancellor Mertz visited Brussels, Belgium to hold separate talks with European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Costa, and NATO Secretary General Rutte. This is also Mertz's first visit to Brussels as German chancellor. On the same day, von der Leyen and Mertz held talks and issued a joint statement. The statement said that the EU is seeking a balanced, fair and mutually beneficial solution to the tariff issue through negotiations with the US. Mertz said that the EU and the US should reach a mutually beneficial “zero tariff” agreement.

On May 9, local time, German Chancellor Mertz visited Brussels, Belgium to hold separate talks with European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Costa, and NATO Secretary General Rutte. This is also Mertz's first visit to Brussels as German chancellor. On the same day, von der Leyen and Mertz held talks and issued a joint statement. The statement said that the EU is seeking a balanced, fair and mutually beneficial solution to the tariff issue through negotiations with the US. Mertz said that the EU and the US should reach a mutually beneficial “zero tariff” agreement.