German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies expressed optimism on Thursday regarding the prospects of the United States and the European Union reaching an agreement on trade and tariffs. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Kukies emphasized that the preferred outcome would be achieving "zero-for-zero" tariffs between the two sides.

He acknowledged that differences remain but stressed the importance of both Washington and Brussels understanding each other's perspectives. Kukies added that he has seen encouraging signals from the US indicating an interest in finding common ground with the EU, despite the recent announcement of tariffs by US President Donald Trump.

"For trust to be broken, a lot more would have to happen because the transatlantic partnership has been built over so many decades that we will not get carried away by the statement of tariffs," Kukies remarked, emphasizing the strength and resilience of the relationship between the two powers.

As negotiations continue, officials on both sides remain hopeful that a deal can be finalized soon, helping to ease tensions and foster stronger economic collaboration across the Atlantic.