Merz, Macron present united front in Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin on Wednesday. It was Macron's first visit to the country since the German elections earlier this year, with both sides pledging to increase cross-border cooperation "at all levels".

The meeting of the leaders of the two dominant economies of the European Union took place against a backdrop of the clock ticking down to the United States imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU goods from Aug 1, with Merz hinting there may be some development on this issue imminently.

"We will discuss some very current issues together, including the current trade policy, about which we are hearing in these minutes that there could possibly be decisions," he said.