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Customs disaster: Trump hits German traders with 15 percent!
US President Trump imposes 15% tariffs on EU imports, which affects German exports. Associations warn of negative consequences.
Customs disaster: Trump hits German traders with 15 percent!
On August 7, 2025, US President Donald Trump introduced tariffs of 15 percent on imports from Europe. This decision has significant negative consequences for the German economy. In particular, trade, which is already under pressure, could suffer even more under these new conditions. Dirk Jandura, President of the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, described the tariffs as a “killer for business”. Traders face a challenge as they cannot easily pass on the increased tariffs to consumers, which will result in higher prices and a loss of competitiveness.
In this context, Helena Melnikov, General Manager of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), also expressed her concern about the increasing pressure on German companies. Higher costs and the uncertain situation pose serious threats to the industries. Despite these unfavorable developments, there was an unexpected increase in German exports. According to current reports, overall exports increased by 0.8 percent to 130.5 billion euros, while exports to the EU increased by 2.4 percent. Business with China also increased by 1.1 percent.
Rebalancing of exports
Dirk Jandura observes that many German exporters are reorienting themselves towards EU states and other countries due to the uncertainty and the new customs regulations. This development shows that companies are trying to break away from the weakening US market. Jandura expressed the desire for renegotiations with the Trump administration to clarify the exact details of the political agreement. However, there are different interpretations of the agreement between the EU and the US government, which further increases the uncertainty.
Jandura points out that the 15 percent tariff seems “more or less set.” There remains hope for a clear line from the EU in future negotiations, but the challenges posed by the introduction of these tariffs should not be underestimated.
The situation makes it clear how vulnerable the German economy is to international trade disputes. Despite the positive development in overall exports, the industry is facing profound changes that could have both short-term and long-term effects on competitiveness. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how relations between the USA and Europe continue to develop and what measures German companies will take to adapt to the new circumstances.
Further information on current developments in German exports can be found at Spiegel.de and about the specific customs consequences Merkur.de.