Merkel urges EU measures to safeguard computer chip production

The production of computer chips and batteries in Europe should be excluded from EU rules on state aid, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. Speaking at an economics conference in Berlin, Merkel said such a move was necessary to ensure Europe did not cede its leading global position in making machines for chip production. "We need to have certain capabilities in Europe," she said, alluding to competition from the United States and China.