Dhaka, Sept. 5 -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday he would convene meetings with the car and steel industries as they groan under Chinese competition and US tariffs.

The talks would involve representatives from companies, trade unions and federal states hosting important operations of the industries concerned, the conservative CDU-leader said.

"We are operating in an extremely challenging environment internationally," Merz said. "We are determined to get this country back on track together."

Speaking alongside Merz at a press conference, Marcus Soeder, head of the CSU, the CDU's Bavarian sister party, said Germany stood "at a crossroads" and was at risk of losing its car industry to Chinese competitors.

"If we do not s...