BERLIN (Dec 22): German car exports to the United States slumped by almost 14% in the first three quarters of 2025, making it the hardest-hit branch of German industry in U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, according to a study seen by Reuters on Monday. German engineering companies have also struggled under the tariff regime, with the study showing exports in that sector to the U.S. declining by 9.5% in the first nine months of 2025. The chemical industry also saw exports to the country's top export market decline by 9.5%, although the report said this could not be blamed solely on tariffs. Across all sectors, German exports to the U.S. were down 7.8% year on year over the three quarters - following average growth of nearly 5% in the comparable periods of 2016 to 2024. "Since it must currently be assumed that U.S. import tariffs will not return to pre-Trump administration levels in the foreseeable future, a significant recovery in German exports to the U.S. is unlikely," study author Samina Sultan said, referring to a "new normal" for German exporters.

Source: The Edge Markets December 22, 2025 10:09 UTC