21.08.2026 - "A year after the tariff deal, the balance sheet from the perspective of the German economy is sobering. The deal prevented worse outcomes, but no trust was built. While the US tariffs capped at 15 percent provide a certain degree of predictability, the goal of establishing stable and reliable transatlantic economic relations remains far from achieved. Companies continue to face new tariff threats, bureaucratic hurdles, and ongoing legal uncertainty. Investments and long-term business decisions are being held back. And it remains the case: The US's high-tariff policy violates existing trade rules. WTO-incompatible US special tariffs, especially on steel and aluminium, must be completely abolished.

The tariff deal marks a turning point for Europe's trade policy. To remain economically sovereign and resilient, strategic dependencies - especially in the digital sector - must be reduced, and trade partnerships broader in scope. This includes the speedy ratification of the agreements with India, Indonesia, and Australia, as well as the consistent expansion of further trade relations in Asia. In a world where geopolitical tensions have become the norm, strategic trade policy determines Europe's economic capacity to act and, thus, our prosperity."