Asia

Merz Calls for EU–Trans-Pacific Free Trade Deal in Singapore

Would an EU-Trans-Pacific tie-up forge a true middle-power bloc or can allies never really divest from Washington and Beijing?

2 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Merz Calls for EU–Trans-Pacific Free Trade Deal in Singapore

Story

Above: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Oct. 27. Image credit: Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

The Facts

Friedrich Merz called for a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership during a trip to Singapore on Tuesday, the first stop of a three-nation trip also including Japan and South Korea.
Reuters
DER SPIEGEL
Deutschland_de
In a joint readout, Merz and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong "exchanged views on approaches to reform and remodel the rules-based multilateral system," with the two nations also "work[ing] towards an eventual ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement."
Government of Singapore
Merz described Germany's policy toward China as "coming of age" and aligned with the EU, while warning that full economic decoupling would be "a mistake." Merz urged both Europe and Asia to reduce "unhealthy, one-sided dependencies" in supply chains and raw materials.
DIE WELT
Reuters
Singapore and Germany also agreed on an updated work plan built on five pillars covering defense and security, trade and investment, digitalization and artificial intelligence, research and innovation, and the energy transition.
Anadolu Agency
Channelnewsasia
Government of Singapore
Germany will join the GUIDE initiative, a voluntary framework launched in Singapore in 2026 to protect critical underwater infrastructure such as subsea cables and pipelines. Singapore is among the initiative's 17 founding members.
Channelnewsasia
Anadolu Agency
Trade between Germany and Singapore amounted for $18.3 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, the EU began trade conversations with the Trans-Pacific Partnership in November 2025, with the two blocs representing 32% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 37% of global trade, while EU-ASEAN negotiations concerning exploring an FTA framework began in September 2022.
European Commission
Government of Singapore
Europa

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Linking Europe with the Trans-Pacific bloc would build a trading system that rewards open markets instead of raw leverage. Pooling markets across continents gives mid-sized economies the clout to set rules on digital trade, clean energy and supply chains instead of waiting on Washington or Beijing. Strength in numbers beats dependence on any single giant, allowing a new opportunity to reshape how middle powers function.

Deutschland_de

Government of Singapore

Narrative B

Middle-power solidarity makes a fine slogan and a poor insurance policy. Grand inter-regional bargains sound noble, but no amount of paperwork replaces the Chinese market that has anchored Singaporean and German markets for decades, or the American security umbrella that has existed. Hedging between giants only invites punishment from both, a reality that allies from all sides of the world are beginning to realize.

The Gateway Pundit

China Daily