BDI: Customs deal with Trump is a blow for Europe

Berlin – Tanja Gönner, Executive Director of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), criticizes the provisionally settled trade conflict with the United States. "It would be completely wrong to say that we are satisfied. Ultimately, this is a blow for us overall – for the export-oriented German economy and for Europe as a whole," she said in POLITICO's Berlin Playbook podcast. "This is not very pleasing for us – to the point where it will really cost us a lot of money that we would like to use differently," Gönner continued. She also sees no long-term gain for the US side: "Ultimately, this will also be reflected in prices for American consumers." She welcomes the fact that Europe has stuck together during the crisis. An escalation has been avoided – in her view, an "important step," because: "I'm not sure we would have been at the status quo ante then." There is no clear winner. Gönner considers renegotiations with US President Donald Trump to be virtually impossible. "It's now about being clear and making sure that it will be reliable for a long time," she said. It's now important to create planning certainty and prevent further tariffs: "It's very important for us that pharmaceuticals and chips are covered by this and that there are no further tariffs – significantly higher ones were announced." Written clarity is now urgently needed, she demands. Europe must also strengthen its competitiveness: "We have some homework to do. Less bureaucracy, more strength."