Customs chaos under Trump: Companies and Europe on the abyss!

Customs chaos under Trump: Companies and Europe on the abyss!

The political landscape in the USA is changing after Donald Trump took over the presidential office again on January 20, 2025. His victory in the presidential election is generally seen as a clear success, whereby the tensions in transatlantic trade and the uncertainties about future trade policy trigger far -reaching discussions. Germany and the EU, which could experience a phase of uncertainty and potential tensions in trade in the USA, according to Deutschlandfunk .

Trump's approaches in trade policy, which he now wants to pursue in his second term, are regarded as a threat to the economic post -war order. He uses Zölle as an instrument for enforcing economic and security policy goals. This is also shown in the announcement, on February 1, 2025 tariffs of 25 % to imports from Canada and Mexico as well as 10 % on Chinese products, which has a significant impact on international trade relationships, such as dgap reported.

role of tariffs in Trump's politics

Under Trump's “America-First” policy, tariffs play a central role. He sees them as a solution to various problems that affect the country. In particular, the tariffs on steel and aluminum were emphasized in the US export policy as a blow to the EU. In March 2025, these tariffs are to be expanded again, which could further increase the tension between the USA and Europe. Companies in the United States and Europe are concerned about the unpredictability of its trade policy, which could put a heavy burden on the trade relationships, such as LVZ highlighted.

unpredictability can also be seen in the recent judgments of American dishes about tariffs based on an emergency law from 1977. A New York Commercial Court recently declared these flat -rate tariffs to be illegal, while an appellate court declared the penalty taxes until the final decision. Trump plans to bring the case before the conservative Supreme Court, which illustrates his rejection of judicial decisions in a further public attack.

episodes for German companies

The effects of this unpredictable customs policy are particularly serious for German companies. Particularly high -exporting industries such as the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and the pharmaceutical industry could suffer considerably. Announced import tariffs of 10 % to 20 % could make access to German companies to the US market, while high punitive tariffs from up to 60 % on products from China could also have indirect effects on the German market, as from Germany radio Thematized.

Michael Hüther points out that German export goods often have a unique selling point, but the necessary production facilities may have to be set up in the USA in order to meet future challenges in American trade policy. The European economy is therefore encouraged to strengthen its own trade relationships and, if necessary, negotiate free trade agreements with like -minded partners to avoid trade conflicts.

The situation is complex, and while Trump introduces new tariffs and tests existing trade agreements, it remains to be seen how transatlantic relationships will develop in a compression under pressure. The European countries are required to appear confidently and not to make one -sided concessions to protect their economic interests.