France, Germany seek new EU rapid response tool against trade threats

France and Germany proposed a new legal tool to enable the EU to respond rapidly to trade wars or measures, such as dumping, that could economically harm the bloc. While French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the proposal was not a direct response to the actions of any particular country, it came days before EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen visits China to tackle trade fictions.