Kerstin Maria Rippel, Director General of the German Steel Federation, emphasized that the tariffs threaten Germany's export-oriented steel industry in a multidimensional way. “The US announcement of the tariffs is a dark day for transatlantic trade,” Rippel stated, reminding that a significant portion of Germany's exports to the US are not direct but indirect steel products. She added that exports of products with a high steel content such as machinery and tool parts alone reached 2.4 million tons.
Rippel indicated that the new US tariffs had a negative impact not only on direct exports of steel and aluminum, but also on indirect exports to sectors with high steel consumption, such as automotive. “This development is a serious risk factor for the steel industry, which is already in the midst of a deep demand crisis, and a factor deepening the crisis,”
The German Steel Federation also made a clear appeal to the European Union and the German government. Rippel called for a strong, clear and decisive response from the EU to the tariffs, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of continuing the political dialog with the US. At the national level, Rippel urged the Federal Government to redirect resources from the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Protection towards a fast and effective infrastructure package to stimulate the economy.
The German steel industry warns that such trade pressures will have serious implications not only for the economy but also for industrial policy.
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