Car manufacturers are worried – why Trump’s rates can also hit eu -hard

Trump recently confirmed that he would introduce rates for European products on Friday. For import from Mexico and Canada, he imposed rates of a maximum of 25 percent on Saturday. If comparable allowances also come for EU products, this can hit the economy hard in the European Union.

In the course of his “America First” (First) strategy of America), the US president spoke with European products before his renewed inauguration of additional rates of up to 20 percent.

Puneral rates on steel
During his first term, Trump already had steel and aluminum of the EU with punitive rates. According to an agreement, these will be exposed to his predecessor Joe Biden until the end of March. If the compromise is not again negotiated again, both the American premiums and the European counting rates would take effect in April.

How could Europe react?
The EU committee in Brussels has potential counter -rates in the drawer. “If it is necessary to defend the economic interests of Europe, we are ready to do this,” said economic commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. In the past, the EU had responded with surcharges for American products such as Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and Bourbon Whiskey.

However, such counter -tensions may only be imposed in the extreme case. EU President -President Ursula von der Leyen is in favor of negotiations with Trump. “It is not interested in tearing the gang of the global economy,” she said for the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Counter -transactions with oil and gas
Trump has already indicated a possible compromise. He called on the EU partners to import oil and natural gas from the US on a large scale “. The EU can also offer more American arms. The chairman of the commercial committee of the European Parliament, Bernd Lange (SPD), has not even excluded a lower car rates.

Long warned that Trump could use European rules for American digital companies or its demand for higher defense expenditure by NATO partners as a reference for negotiations. The EU should not be blackmailed and must “be clear where necessary”.

EU is already looking for alternatives
Given the threats of Washington, Brussels tries to enter into closer relationships with other trading partners. Before Trump took office, the EU announced an agreement to strengthen mutual relationships with Mexico and resumed negotiations on a free trade agreement with Malaysia. In December the controversial agreement with the South -American Mercosur -countries was temporarily signed by the Leyen.

The announced rates would in particular affect German car manufacturers. According to the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) this also applies to the punitive rates for goods from Mexico and Canada. Many German companies are “closely integrated into the supply chains of Noord -America,” DIHK General Director Helena Melnikov told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.

The DIHK therefore requires rapid negotiations with the Trump government. A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economy said in Berlin that the rates “eventually both parties were damaged”, she referred to “constant contact with the American partners”.

“Trump cuts his own meat”
US President Donald Trump lowers his own flesh with the recently imposed American rates, according to the BGA of the German foreign trade association. “Trump’s decision will be expensive for the Americans, rates always work on both sides,” said BGA President Dirk Jandu.

Countries by the affected countries would aggravate a “trade conflict between the nations”, he warned. “The losers are always the final consumers that feel that the price in the cash register is increasing. I would like the rates to be averted.