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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 13 March 2018
Merkel faces US, EU challenges, says ‘time to start work’

By GEIR MOULSON only sister party the Chris- clude U.S. tariffs on foreign- not if it can be avoided in reform agenda. Merkel said
Associated Press tian Social Union, and the made steel and aluminum some way by unilateral ac- she and her finance minis-
BERLIN (AP) — Chancel- center-left Social Demo- announced by President tions,” she told reporters in ter-designate, Olaf Scholz,
lor Angela Merkel prom- crats signed their coali- Donald Trump, along with Berlin. “If these unilateral would visit France after be-
ised Monday to work for tion agreement Monday. threats of taxes on German actions can’t be avoided, ing sworn in, and “we will
a strong Europe and said Parliament is due to elect automakers. we will have to consider be able to say more than
she’s hopeful talks can re- Merkel for her fourth term Merkel welcomed talks the how we can answer that, we could in December”
solve the standoff over U.S. as chancellor on Wednes- European Union has al- but I am counting on talks, at an EU summit later this
tariffs, declaring that “it’s day, a record 171 days af- ready started, and said the and there will be many op- month. She said that “we
finally time to start work” ter Germans voted. new German government portunities for that.” need Europe — a Europe
as Germany’s new govern- Merkel has been only a will hold talks of its own. In Europe, French President that shares the same val-
ment prepares to take of- caretaker chancellor since “Such differences of opin- Emmanuel Macron has ues and acts together, par-
fice. October, and many un- ion over whether situations been awaiting a German ticularly toward the outside
Merkel’s Christian Demo- resolved issues await the are fair or not have to be response to his calls for an world, and we ... will make
cratic Union, its Bavaria- new government. Those in- resolved in talks, I think, and ambitious European Union our contribution.” q

Fearing trade war, EU warns of protectionism ‘dead end’

By LORNE COOK en American industry.
Associated Press The EU rejects Trump’s ar-
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Eu- gument that the tariffs are
ropean Union on Monday required for national secu-
urged U.S. President Don- rity reasons.
ald Trump not to head It has threatened to slap re-
down “a dead end” road taliatory duties on around
of protectionism and 2.8 billion euros ($3.4 bil-
warned of a damaging lion) worth of U.S. steel, ag-
trade war over his new ricultural and other prod-
steel and aluminum tariffs. ucts like peanut butter
At talks in Brussels, econ- and orange juice if it is not
omy ministers underlined excluded from the tariff re-
that the EU — the world’s gime.
biggest trading bloc — Amid uncertainty over who
supports free and open might be exempted, Ger-
trade but that its 28 coun- man Finance Minister Pe-
tries will respond if they are ter Altmaier appealed to
targeted by the U.S. tar- reason, saying it is the “re-
iffs, which are set to enter sponsibility of everybody to
force next week. keep international trade as
“We are worried (about) fair and open as possible.”
the possibility of having a Dutch Finance Minister
trade war between the Wopke Hoekstra said the
United States and the EU Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna, center, speaks with Greek Finance Minister Eu- tariffs are “a bad idea. It is
clid Tsakalotos, left, during a meeting of the eurogroup at the EU Council building in Brussels on
because we believe that Monday, March 12, 2018. bad for European citizens,
there will be only losers. We (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) for Dutch citizens and it will
believe that protection- turn out bad for U.S. citi-
ism is a dead end,” French ways a political, a historical aluminum. He temporar- satisfaction.He said other zens as well.”
Economy Minister Bruno Le error.” ily exempted big steel pro- countries could be spared The EU’s executive body,
Maire told reporters. Trump said last Thursday ducers Canada and Mexi- the tariffs if they can con- the European Commis-
Spanish Economy Minister that he was slapping tariffs co — provided they agree vince the U.S. government sion, handles trade talks
Roman Escolano Olivares of 25 percent on imported to renegotiate a North that their steel and alumi- on behalf of member
said, “protectionism is al- steel and 10 percent on American trade deal to his num exports don’t threat- countries.q

Italy’s Democrats reject kingmaker role after Renzi resigns

By COLLEEN BARRY enough votes to govern more seats in parliament as tina said the League and economic recovery more
Associated Press alone in the March 4 par- a bloc. the 5-Stars “don’t have inclusive.
MILAN (AP) — Former Italian liamentary vote, setting the Maurizio Martina, the out- any alibis now,” and should Salvini is pushing for a flat
Premier Matteo Renzi for- stage for arduous talks to going agriculture minister “take their responsibility” to tax to boost state coffers
mally resigned Monday as see if either the anti-estab- who was named as the form a government. and to fight rampant tax
leader of the Democratic lishment 5-Star Movement Democratic Party’s interim While the 5-Star Movement evasion, while the 5-Stars
Party following its crushing or the center-right coalition leader, made clear that has said it would speak with have promised a mini-
election defeat, with the led by the anti-immigrant the center-left would not anyone willing to find com- mum income to qualifying
interim leader maintaining League can form a stable take part in any new gov- mon ground, the League, citizens that Salvini has dis-
the party line of refusing government. ernment, as Renzi had in- led by Matteo Salvini, has missed as a handout.
a kingmaker role in a new The 5-Stars won the most sisted before his resigna- indicated it is far from the The new parliament is
Italian government. votes of any party, and tion. After a contentious 5-Stars on key issues, includ- scheduled to hold its first
No party or coalition won the coalition would control election campaign, Mar- ing how to make Italy’s session March 23.q