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Business
‘Fatal signal’ for free trade: Germany calls for EU response to Trump car tariffs
By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter), Shea Taylor (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)
- German officials reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on foreign car imports and auto parts. They said the tariffs would hurt free trade and economic prosperity.
- Germany has three big names that conduct business with the U.S.: Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
- One high-ranking German official called on the European Union to respond decisively and vowed not to back down to the U.S.
Full Story
Germany’s economy minister, Robert Habeck, reacted to President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on car imports and auto parts. He stated that the new tariffs are bad news for German car manufacturers and the economy.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 24%
Center 58%
Right 18%
Bias Summary
- European automakers criticized the U.S. Import tax on cars, stating it will harm consumers and companies in both regions, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
- In 2023, the European auto industry exported 56 billion euros worth of vehicles and parts to the U.S., supporting 13.8 million jobs.
- About 24% of German and 30% of Italian non-EU exports go to the U.S., making them particularly vulnerable.
- The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association stated that the tariffs would hurt global automakers and U.S. manufacturing simultaneously.
- Consumer confidence in the U.S. dropped 7.2 points to 92.9 in March, reaching its lowest level since January 2021, according to The Conference Board.
- Future economic expectations worsened by 9.6 points to 65.2, the lowest in 12 years, signaling potential recession, as stated by CNBC.
- Stephanie Guichard from The Conference Board emphasized that consumer optimism about future income has diminished significantly, reflecting broader anxieties about the economy.
- Germany urged the European Union to respond firmly to President Trump's 25% tariffs on cars and parts, which will take effect on April 3.
- The tariffs threaten Germany's auto industry, impacting companies like BMW and Volkswagen, and could increase car prices by up to $12,000.
- France's finance minister described the tariffs as 'very bad news' and emphasized the need for Europe to consider retaliatory tariffs on U.S. Imports.
- The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association warned that the tariffs could lead to negative consequences for consumers, growth, and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize Europe’s negative reaction, using terms like “lashes out” and “economic threat,” highlighting potential harm to European jobs and the global economy.
Media outlets on the right
,while also noting Europe’s reaction, used the same “lashes out” to portray them as aggressive.
Media outlets in the center
focused on the impact on U.S. Consumer confidence, noting that consumers were “spooked.”
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
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Far
Right
Right
+0
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Untracked Bias
Click to close
96 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
96
Leaning Left
15
Center
36
Leaning Right
11
Last Updated
4 days ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Habeck urged the European Union to respond decisively to these latest tariffs, stating that they will ultimately harm the U.S., the EU and global trade overall.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
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What German car brands will likely be affected by the tariffs?
In 2023, CNBC reported Germany was the largest exporter of cars to the U.S. Brands exported to the U.S. include Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
In fact, when it comes to trade and the automotive industry, BMW said its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is its biggest plant worldwide. The company said it has been an important production location for more than 30 years.
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How much business do they conduct in the US?
BMW said the South Carolina plant exported 225,000 BMWs in 2024, valued at more than $10 billion. A spokesperson for BMW said a trade conflict would not have any benefits.
The president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, Hildegard Muller, called the 25% tariffs a “fatal signal for free, rules-based trade.”
Muller said the risk is high on all sides, with negative effects likely on the global economy, prosperity, jobs and prices.
[Craig Nigrelli]
GERMANY’S ECONOMY MINISTER REACTED TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S 25 % TARIFFS ON CAR IMPORTS, AS WELL AS AUTO PARTS. HE SAID, THE NEW TARIFFS ARE BAD NEWS FOR GERMAN CARMAKERS AND THE GERMAN ECONOMY.
ROBERT HABECK CALLED ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PROVIDE A DECISIVE RESPONSE TO THESE LATEST TARIFFS SAYING THEY QUOTE “ ULTIMATELY HARM THE U.S. AND THE EU AND GLOBAL TRADE AS A WHOLE. “
HABECK CALLED ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO DELIVER A DECISIVE RESPONSE AND MAKE IT CLEAR, THAT QUOTE “ WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF THE U.S.”
CNBC REPORTS THAT GERMANY IS THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF CARS TO THE UNITED STATES, DATING BACK TO 2023, INCLUDING VOLKSWAGEN, MERCEDES-BENZ AND BMW. IN FACT WHEN IT COMES TO TRADE AND THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, BMW SAYS ITS PLANT IN SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA IS ITS BIGGEST PLANT WORLDWIDE AND HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PRODUCTION LOCATION FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
BMW SAYS THE SOUTH CAROLINA PLANT EXPORTED 225,000 BMWS IN 2024 WITH A VALUE OF MORE THAN $10 BILLION. A SPOKESPERSON FOR BMW SAID A TRADE CONFLICT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY BENEFITS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, HILDEGARD MULLER, CALLED THE 25 % TARIFFS, A “FATAL SIGNAL FOR FREE, RULES-BASED TRADE”.
HE SAYS COMPANIES AND THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN WILL FEEL A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN AS THE TWO ARE INTERWOVEN AND THAT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE FELT BY CONSUMERS.
MULLER SAYS THE RISK IS HIGH ON ALL SIDES WITH NEGATIVE EFFECTS LIKELY ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, PROSPERITY, JOBS AND PRICES. FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 24%
Center 58%
Right 18%
Bias Summary
- European automakers criticized the U.S. Import tax on cars, stating it will harm consumers and companies in both regions, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
- In 2023, the European auto industry exported 56 billion euros worth of vehicles and parts to the U.S., supporting 13.8 million jobs.
- About 24% of German and 30% of Italian non-EU exports go to the U.S., making them particularly vulnerable.
- The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association stated that the tariffs would hurt global automakers and U.S. manufacturing simultaneously.
- Consumer confidence in the U.S. dropped 7.2 points to 92.9 in March, reaching its lowest level since January 2021, according to The Conference Board.
- Future economic expectations worsened by 9.6 points to 65.2, the lowest in 12 years, signaling potential recession, as stated by CNBC.
- Stephanie Guichard from The Conference Board emphasized that consumer optimism about future income has diminished significantly, reflecting broader anxieties about the economy.
- Germany urged the European Union to respond firmly to President Trump's 25% tariffs on cars and parts, which will take effect on April 3.
- The tariffs threaten Germany's auto industry, impacting companies like BMW and Volkswagen, and could increase car prices by up to $12,000.
- France's finance minister described the tariffs as 'very bad news' and emphasized the need for Europe to consider retaliatory tariffs on U.S. Imports.
- The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association warned that the tariffs could lead to negative consequences for consumers, growth, and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize Europe’s negative reaction, using terms like “lashes out” and “economic threat,” highlighting potential harm to European jobs and the global economy.
Media outlets on the right
,while also noting Europe’s reaction, used the same “lashes out” to portray them as aggressive.
Media outlets in the center
focused on the impact on U.S. Consumer confidence, noting that consumers were “spooked.”
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
96 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
96
Leaning Left
15
Center
36
Leaning Right
11
Last Updated
4 days ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
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