German Finance Minister calls for calm in US-EU trade dispute.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, in an interview with the Sunday picture newspaper, called for restraint in the escalating trade disputes between the European Union and the United States. The German Sunday newspaper quoted Klingbeil as saying, "We do not need more provocations right now, but serious negotiations." Klingbeil stated that he had discussed "this issue" with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Klingbeil said, "The threat of tariffs to the US economy is at least as great as the threat to the German and European economies. This trade conflict hurts everyone and must be ended as soon as possible." Klingbeil's remarks echoed European Union officials' response to US President Donald Trump's threat on Friday - Trump said he would impose a 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1, a statement that led to a sharp drop in stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic.