German Leaders Reach $18 Billion Budget Deal After Weeks of Talks
• German leaders reach budget deal for 2024 after weeks of negotiations to plug €17B gap • Deal allows maintaining subsidies for semiconductors, clean energy, but cuts some other areas • Government keeping options open to suspend debt brake if Ukraine war escalates • Proposed budget includes new taxes on jet fuel, plastic packaging, carbon emissions • Opposition attacks plan as fiscal trickery, but government hopes deal quells political crisis