Following the invasion, Russia turned off the gas taps to Europe, leading to fears of blackouts this winter.France has proposed responding with rival "buy European" incentives, and European Union officials this week also promised "decisive" steps.Mr Lindner said maintaining a level playing field was important, but he wanted to see the two sides negotiate exemptions for companies or develop a new trade deal, rather than try to out-subsidise each other."There is a threat for the level playing field and I take this seriously but... we are spending and investing much more than the US-side so we don't have to be afraid," he said."Some in the European context, they see the Inflation Reduction Act as the occasion to introduce policies they've proposed in the past, and I think it is an occasion to strengthen our competitiveness at the European level, make further progress on capital markets union, to negotiate with the US side a free trade agreement - but not pay more subsidies," he said."