Tilman Kuban, a politician with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has advocated for a more pragmatic approach to trade with the United States, even in the sensitive agricultural sector. Speaking on the Berlin Playbook podcast by POLITICO, Kuban stated that “Free trade guarantees our prosperity – and that on both sides of the Atlantic”. He argued that reducing tariffs would benefit businesses and enhance prosperity for people on both sides of the Atlantic.
Addressing the contentious “chlorinated chicken” issue, Kuban expressed a willingness to find a compromise. He emphasized the importance of avoiding economic harm to either the American or European economies, asserting that “Both sides benefit from fair and free trade.
The European and economic policy expert also called for a more assertive stance from the European Union. While acknowledging the importance of the US as a partner, Kuban highlighted the EU’s significance as the largest export market for the United States.
Kuban criticized the EU’s current trade policy as being too slow and overly bureaucratic. He suggested a need for greater speed and pragmatism, noting that recent trade agreements have been burdened with excessive environmental and labor protection standards.
To address these issues, Kuban proposed the implementation of “EU-only agreements” which could be decided upon solely by the European Union, bypassing lengthy ratification processes within member states. These agreements, he believes, could offer a more agile and effective path forward for European trade policy.