German Finance Minister Optimistic About US Ties After Bessent Meeting

Leaders at the Group of Seven ministerial meeting sought to negotiate Trump’s U.S. tariffs.

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil at the lower house of Parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin on May 15, 2025. Lisi Niesner/Reuters

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said he was optimistic about relations with Washington after a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on May 21.

Speaking to journalists at the Group of Seven (G7) ministerial meeting in Banff, Canada, Klingbeil said: “I noticed the positive signals and believe we can build on them.”