
On his Asia trip final day in Seoul, German Chancellor Merz urged a global free trade network amid US-China economic conflicts, backed by South Korean PM Han Seong Sook.
AI-generated summary
Chancellor Merz addressed the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul during his four-day Asia trip.
Chancellor Merz has again called for a global network of countries with a commitment to free trade based on international rules.
"Competition between the US and China is ramping up. Tariffs, technological decoupling strategies and a tough race for critical raw materials and new technologies are fundamentally changing the rules of our global economy," Merz said. "These conflicts and systemic shifts in power pattern concern us all. They particularly concern economically aspiring partners in the Indo-Pacific, as well as in Germany and in Europe."
His comments came while in South Korea on the final day of his four-day trip to Asia. He was speaking at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul.
"We are resolutely joining forces against unilateralism, autocratic power politics and violations of international law," he said.
"When supply chains become political pawns, when access to key technologies is obstructed or when efforts to secure raw materials resemble displays of power rather than fair partnerships, this jeopardizes growth, prosperity and ultimately the security of entire regions," Merz added.
The chancellor had made a similar call in Singapore and Japan.
"German companies are using Korea as a central hub to expand their presence in the Asia-Pacific region," South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong Sook said at Thursday's conference.
Additional reporting by Nina Haase

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