German exporters don’t want US trade deal ‘at any price’, says trade group – The European Commission aims to reach a trade agreement outline with the U.S. in the coming days, ahead of the August 1 deadline set by President Donald Trump for broad tariff increases.
Exports to the United States dropped 7.7% in May month on month, following a 10.5% decline in April, data showed on Tuesday.
Political Assault in Brussels: Young Man Attacked for Wearing Trump Cap – On the night of Thursday, July 3rd, a young German citizen was assaulted in Place du Luxembourg in Brussels, just steps from the European Parliament. The incident occurred at the well-known bar ’The Network,’ a popular gathering spot for EU officials, parliamentary assistants, and visitors.
According to the testimony of the 24-year-old victim, the incident began when a woman approached him and snatched a white baseball cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again,” associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump. After calling him a “racist,” three men, reportedly of North African origin, joined in, allegedly insulting and physically attacking him, leaving him with multiple bruises, facial injuries, and a head wound that required several stitches.
Merz ‘delusional’ over US sparing German cars in EU trade deal – Brussels has warned German chancellor not to expect UK-style carve-out for car sector in EU deal with Donald Trump.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is “delusional” in his expectation that Germany’s car industry will be spared from US tariffs, according to EU officials involved in trade talks with the Trump administration.
Merz has been pressing the European Commission, which manages trade policy on behalf of the EU’s 27 member states, to sign a “framework” deal with Washington aping the US-UK agreement signed earlier this month, which included a special dispensation for cars.
But Brussels officials have privately told Berlin that such an arrangement would not be possible, as reducing German car imports is a big focus for US President Donald Trump, two people briefed on the discussions told the Financial Times.
“On this point, Donald is right — there is a serious problem,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, as she slammed Beijing for disrupting global trade with subsidies to boost its own companies – accusing the CCP of “weaponizing” its leading position in the production and refinement of raw materials used for cars, batteries and wind turbines.
She then encouraged Trump to join forces with US allies to address China’s trade imbalances, rather than punishing them with his own tariff scheme.
“When we focus our attention on tariffs between partners, it diverts our energy from the real challenge — one that threatens us all.”
If you were catastrophically inept at your last job, it’s time for you to get a promotion.
Everybody’s doing it. See Ursula von der Leyen who got promoted to President of the European Union after bungling her job as German Defense Minister – and two or three other jobs before that.
Germany’s Baerbock elected as UN General Assembly head – Former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was voted in as president of the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile, Germany’s tough migration policy has been dealt a setback in court.
It Is Time for Germans To Get Seriously Angry – Early Sunday morning (last week), Germany was hit by Islamist terror—again. Five people were severely injured, two critically, in a knife attack. The perpetrator, identified as a 35-year-old Syrian refugee, was finally tracked down and arrested by police on Tuesday, 42 hours later. He reportedly entered Germany illegally two years ago. Fellow residents at his asylum shelter told reporters he maintained close connections to Islamist circles—a claim supported by evidence found in his room during the police investigation.
Germany, that much is clear, is in deep trouble. And its establishment—though the police have done a commendable job hunting down the perpetrator—remains unable to get a grip on the persistent terrorist threat.
But at least it’s still movement. In the right direction.
Germany drops opposition to nuclear power in rapprochement with France – Paris wins approval from Berlin to remove anti-nuclear bias in EU legislation, say officials.
Germany has dropped its long-held opposition to nuclear power, in the first concrete sign of rapprochement with France by Berlin’s new government led by conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Berlin has signalled to Paris it will no longer block French efforts to ensure nuclear power is treated on par with renewable energy in EU legislation, according to French and German officials.
Germany plans to suspend family reunification – The new German government has agreed to stop family members of refugees with subsidiary protection status from moving to Germany. The controversial move will particularly affect Syrian families.
EU offers USA deal on free trade – The EU has proposed to US President Trump that all tariffs on industrial goods be abolished on both sides. We are ready to negotiate, said Commission President von der Leyen.
Trump will ‘buckle under pressure’ if Europe bands together over tariffs, German economy minister says – U.S. President Donald Trump will “buckle under pressure” and alter his tariff policies if Europe bands together, acting German economy minister Robert Habeck said Thursday.
“That is what I see, that Donald Trump will buckle under pressure, that he corrects his announcements under pressure, but the logical consequence is that he then also needs to feel the pressure,” he said during a press conference.