Fulda discusses Trump's customs policy: Over 100 entrepreneurs in exchange!

Fulda discusses Trump's customs policy: Over 100 entrepreneurs in exchange!

On June 6, 2025, the first Fulda Business Day of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) took place in the Marble Hall of the City Palace. Around 100 guests came to discuss the topic of US President Donald Trump's customs and economic policy. IHK President Dr. Christian Gebhardt highlighted the Fulda region's special relationship with the USA, which was significantly shaped by the stationing of American soldiers during the Cold War.

The impact of Trump's policies on German companies in the USA is significant. A lecture by WDR business editor Ulrich Ueckerseifer shed light on the increasingly critical situation. Trump often reveals a bad mood about the negative foreign trade balance and the decline in the share of manufacturing in the USA. According to Ueckerseifer, this also leads to problems in the sales of US vehicles in Germany.

Uncertainties and investment sentiments

Companies in the region are increasingly cautious due to the uncertainties since Trump took office. Paul Meyer, head of the DIHK's US trade policy department, reported negative expectations and a decline in investment intentions. Meyer calls for a strong and united Europe and the development of new markets to meet these challenges.

Julia Uth from Uth GmbH and Hans-Joachim Finger from Hubtex said that buyers are acting cautiously due to the customs issue. Torsten Müller from Sartorius AG also sees tariffs as a short-term problem, but expresses concerns about possible export duties on software products.

The general mood of German companies

The overall mood of German companies in the USA has deteriorated, as an evaluation by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) shows. Only 14 percent of the companies surveyed expect the economy to improve in the next twelve months, compared to 38 percent in autumn 2024. Compared to the last survey, 44 percent of companies expect the economy to worsen, an increase of 7 percent.

DIHK foreign trade chief Volker Treier describes US trade policy as unpredictable, which leads to considerable uncertainty when it comes to investments. The burden of tariffs and counter-tariffs damages trust and competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic. Since March 2025, there have been numerous announcements of new tariffs on steel, aluminum and cars, further exacerbating the situation. Trump has raised tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent, hurting companies' investment plans.

The decline in investment plans is worrying: Only 24 percent of companies plan to expand their investments in the US - a decline of 37 percent since fall 2024. At the same time, 29 percent of companies plan to scale back their investments. In addition, 71 percent of companies report disadvantages caused by preferring local suppliers and 41 percent complain about disrupted supply chains.

The DIHK therefore calls for rapid and comprehensive negotiations on economic policy and tariffs in order to overcome the current challenges. This situation highlights the precarious situation in which both German and American companies find themselves.