21.01.2026 - "For the German economy, today's decision by the European Parliament is a blow to the stomach. It comes at an inconvenient time both economically and geopolitically. Right now, we need more stable trade partnerships in the world, not fewer. At best, today's decision means the agreement will be delayed by many months, after 25 years of negotiations. This crucial signal that the EU can successfully open markets and diversify access to raw materials is missing. Both would be more important now than ever in light of tariff threats and strategic dependencies. German businesses now miss out on significant market opportunities and access to raw materials in Latin America, during a time of structural economic crisis in our country. It is even more imperative now for the Federal Government to advocate for other trade agreements, such as with India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, or the United Arab Emirates and to fundamentally improve domestic location conditions.”