Future of the economy: Aachen discusses trading strategies with Trump influences

Future of the economy: Aachen discusses trading strategies with Trump influences

On June 30, 2025, the IHK ZukunftsArena #morgenland360 took place in Aachen, where around 180 guests from business, science and civil society came together. The event highlighted the economic policies of US President Donald Trump and their far-reaching effects on Europe, Germany and the Rhenish region. The focus was particularly on the USA's recent customs decisions as well as the geopolitical trade conflicts that are straining transatlantic relations.

Gisela Kohl-Vogel, President of the IHK Aachen, emphasized the urgency of open markets, clear rules and planning security for companies in the region. She called on Europe to strengthen its competitiveness and develop a new trade strategy. She pointed out that tariffs are viewed as an inappropriate economic policy tool and that the focus must be on innovation in key areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor production, space travel and quantum technology.

The role of the IHK Aachen

Alexander Wilden, chairman of the Foreign Trade Committee of the IHK Aachen, warned of the possible consequences of threatened punitive tariffs for the export-strong region. He called for diversification and dialogue rather than confrontation to find long-term solutions. Nadja Atwal, media expert and Trump supporter, emphasized the importance of open exchange and saw potential for cooperation between Germany and the USA.

Another speaker, Alexander Peters from NEUMAN & ESSER, called for more strategic courage and the development of new trade agreements, especially with the Mercosur region. In this context, Gisela Kohl-Vogel expressed concern that economic and foreign trade policy was increasingly being discussed emotionally. She announced that the IHK Aachen would in future provide its member companies with advice and information on US economic policy as well as webinars on market development.

Recommendations for a new trading strategy

The event not only provided general insights, but also concretized four central recommendations for action for a new European trading strategy:

• Aktive Förderung des Freihandels durch moderne, multilaterale Abkommen.
• Geeintes, selbstbewusstes Auftreten der EU.
• Gezielte Diversifikation internationaler Märkte.
• Stärkung wirtschaftlicher Resilienz durch stabile Lieferketten und digitale Infrastrukturen.

These recommendations underline the need for a proactive and cooperative attitude in the globalized economic world. This also meant an intensive examination of the transatlantic relations that have been cultivated since the Second World War in the areas of diplomacy, defense and economics. Such relationships are based on a liberal understanding of democracy, the rule of law and the principle of the free market economy, and they include both bilateral relationships and multilateral frameworks such as NATO and the EU-US.

The IHK ZukunftsArena thus showed that not only economic interdependence and cultural exchange between the USA and Europe are of central importance, but also civil society cooperation for strengthening the transatlantic partnership. The high density of interaction in political, economic, social and cultural aspects remains a key to understanding regional dynamics.

For further details about the event and its implications you can go to Euregio-current and Springer access.