Leader of Germany's far-right, pro-Trump AfD criticizes US tariffs

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Thursday called tariffs "poison for free trade," hours after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping customs duties.

Alice Weidel, whose party courted support from Trump and his adviser Elon Musk in the run-up to the German election earlier this year, told dpa that the United States should be persuaded that an agreement on tariffs would be preferable to the unilateral duties.

"It's not about whether the tariffs are understandable or justifiable, it's about preventing them," Weidel said.

The far-right leader has previously praised Trump for his defence of US national interests and "America First" policy.

Weidel received open support from Musk and met with US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference in February, while her AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla travelled to Washington for Trump's inauguration.

The US president on Wednesday announced blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all goods imported into the US and higher levies for some countries. The EU faces tolls of 20% on its goods.

The US tariffs on European products were also criticized by Leif-Erik Holm, the AfD's spokesman for economic affairs in the German parliament.

"This decision is throwing sand into the gears of the global economy," he said, calling for negotiations to avert a trade war, rather than countermeasures.