Germany’s Transatlantic Coordinator, SPD’s Metin Hakverdi, set conditions for a new trade agreement with the United States. He said the deal should only be concluded if it effectively shields the country from renewed tariff claims and further geopolitical setbacks from the Biden administration. He referred to the recent Greenland case when explaining this stance.
After the Supreme Court ruling, Hakverdi noted that the question of a potential tariff deal has taken on new implications. He insists that the U.S. administration must first clarify exactly how Trump’s latest tariff announcements will affect German interests. Only on that basis does he expect negotiations to move forward.
The United States and the European Union signed a trade agreement last summer, but it remains unratified. A preliminary vote in the EU Parliament’s trade committee, originally slated for Tuesday, was called off on Monday following a special session. The EU seeks clearer information before proceeding, and Hakverdi believes the European side is on the same page. He expects the U.S. to push for a quick settlement, given that the president can impose new tariffs for only 150 days.
Germany stresses the need for close coordination among European countries. Companies demand a reliable, long‑term solution. “Our goal is clear: stability and a fair deal” Hakverdi said, emphasising that both must endure over time.
In his frequent travels to the United States, Hakverdi notes that many Republicans are demanding greater reliability. “A number of them are critical of Washington’s current course” he said. They express concern that German and European investments in the United States-crucial for local economic dynamism and jobs-could be at risk.
