https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-surprised-by-asian-pushback-to-made-in-europe-plan-for-car-industryContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-surprised-by-asian-pushback-to-made-in-europe-plan-for-car-industryhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-surprised-by-asian-pushback-to-made-in-europe-plan-for-car-industry#u174663Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:40:59 +0000German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed surprise at mounting resistance from Asian partners regarding a Franco-German proposal to prioritize regional content in the European Union automotive industry. Merz stated that leaders in Japan, Singapore, and Korea raised significant protectionism concerns about the Buy European rules and electric vehicle subsidies. In response to the pushback, Merz intends to relay these objections back to Brussels and bring the complaints to an upcoming European Union leaders meeting in Dublin scheduled for November 13.Why it mattersThe Franco-German automotive in