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Merkel: We want open markets, free trade, no barriers

HANOVER, Germany, March 19 - Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated on Sunday that Germany was strongly in favor of free trade and open markets, at a time when the United States is becoming increasingly protectionist.
"We do want open markets, fair trade, we certainly don't want any barriers but at a time of an 'Internet of things' we want to link our societies with one another and let them deal fairly with one another, and that is what free trade is all about," Merkel said at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover.
Speaking after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the same event that the European Union and Japan should soon reach an economic deal, Merkel said: "It's very, very good that Japan says we want a free trade agreement, we want it soon because that could be the right statement and Germany would love to be a propelling drive behind this."