The Federal Government hopes to avoid an escalation of the trade conflict with the government of US President Donald Trump.
“We don’t want to bring about a trade war, but the goal should be to further reduce trade barriers,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestre in Berlin. “And the second is that of course we have to protect our domestic companies from what else will come.” One should not react emotionally now, but must understand the effects of the US tariffs.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is in conversation with other European heads of state and government and leading German companies. He also informs those who are now negotiating a new black-red coalition. There is “a close connection between the executive federal government and a possibly future federal government”.
Trump consultant and tech billionaire Elon Musk had explained at the weekend, he hoped to abolish all tariffs between Europe and North America. Leaving dispute did not want to comment in concrete terms, but said that everyone would benefit from tariffs.