Merz and Macron propose EU tool to rapidly cut off single market access

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, 5 October 2026. The letter proposes new EU trade measures, according to Deutsche Welle (DW) and France 24.

The proposals include a measure that could be activated rapidly against countries that economically harm the bloc, as Reuters, DW and France 24 reported. The letter does not name any specific country.

One proposed tool would allow a third country to be excluded or cut off from the EU single market. This would happen on an expedited basis, in exceptional circumstances. According to DW, Merz and Macron wrote that it could be used in cases "where third countries deliberately seek to undermine the restoration of a level playing field and fair market conditions through political or economic means, leading to serious and systematic distortions of our single market." The Commission could act without prior approval from member states. Member states could block such a step by a qualified (weighted) majority vote.

A second tool would aim to reduce European dependencies and encourage diversification of suppliers.

The letter comes days before EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic is due to visit Beijing to discuss trade. An EU leaders' summit is scheduled for next week.

Context

DW described the letter as a "non-paper", an informal, nonbinding document. According to DW, excluding a country from the single market currently requires a slow, complicated process that needs member states' approval. France 24 reported that the tool would let the Commission respond to a trade aggression within days, for example if a country cut off supplies of critical raw materials.

According to France 24, Merz and Macron are expected to present their ideas at the summit in Brussels. DW gave the summit dates as 15-16 October 2026.

By the EU's own figures, its trade deficit with China was around €360 billion (about $400 billion) in 2025. The EU depends heavily on China for critical raw materials.

What is disputed

• Trade deficit: DW reported that Chinese statisticians put the 2025 figure at $292 billion.
• Visiting official: France 24's summary line named von der Leyen as visiting China. The body of the same article refers to the EU trade commissioner heading to Beijing, without naming him. DW names the commissioner as Sefcovic.

What each side says

In the letter, as quoted by DW, Merz and Macron wrote: "The open and rules-based trading system is being massively compromised by the instrumentalization of trade, systemic market-distorting practices and global macroeconomic imbalances." AFP, which saw the letter, quoted it as saying: "We need a credible instrument in the hands of the Commission". According to France 24, the two leaders say the proposal is not a direct response to any particular country.

AFP quoted an unnamed German government source as saying "the EU must be able to inflict damage comparable to that being done to us".

DW reported that Beijing has warned it could retaliate with measures of its own after learning of the EU's plans. DW does not specify whether this refers to the letter. According to DW, Sefcovic earlier this year expressed hope for "tangible results by October" on EU-China trade.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any response from the Commission or other member states.

Analysis

The proposal would shift some trade-defence power from member state capitals to the Commission, since action could proceed unless a qualified majority objects. Supporters may see this as a way to match the speed of larger trading partners. Others may raise questions about oversight and how the broadly worded trigger criteria quoted by DW would be applied in practice. The timing, close to the trade commissioner's Beijing visit and the leaders' summit, may influence how the idea is received, though the letter names no country. Outcomes could range from adoption in some form to revision or setting aside, depending on the positions of other governments and the Commission.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.