20/07/2026—“One year after the tariff deal between the EU and the USA, the German economy’s assessment is sobering. Although the asymmetrical agreement is now in force—with US tariffs capped at 15% for most goods and the EU lifting tariffs on many US imports, providing at least a minimum of planning security—its main goal remains unachieved. Transatlantic economic relations are far from stable and have even become more susceptible to developments often beyond traditional trade policy issues.

Businesses continue to face new tariff threats, additional bureaucratic hurdles, and ongoing legal uncertainty. For investment decisions, companies need reliable guidance and equitable trade relationships. When framework conditions remain changeable, investments fall below potential, and long-term business decisions are postponed.

It is all the more important for the European Union to refute the recent allegations against the German healthcare system and accusations concerning supposed European “overcapacities” or inadequate measures against forced labor. German industry is deeply concerned that such allegations might soon prompt the USA to impose further tariffs on European products. The EU must therefore act decisively and cohesively, demanding adherence to the Turnberry agreement while ensuring that European regulatory sovereignty does not become a bargaining chip in negotiations with Washington.

At the same time, the long-term goal of completely abolishing WTO-inconsistent US tariffs should not be overlooked. The tariff deal should serve as a wake-up call for Europe: To maintain economic sovereignty, Europe must diversify dependencies—including those on close partners. This is especially true for the digital sector, where Europe must bolster economic resilience, reduce strategic dependencies, and expand its trade relations.

To achieve greater diversification of our trade partnerships, it is crucial to promptly ratify the concluded agreements with Indonesia and Australia. Meanwhile, negotiations with Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines must be prioritized on the trade policy agenda. Europe needs to build many and diverse economic pillars. Only a strategically oriented trade policy can open new markets, enhance competitiveness, and ensure Europe’s economic capacity to act in a world where geopolitical tensions have become the norm."