In the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, a majority of Germans now call for a decisive response from the European Union. A Forsa poll for the magazine “Stern” and the broadcaster RTL found that 51 % of German citizens support counter‑measures, such as levying tariffs on U.S. products. Forty‑four per cent favour restraint, urging the EU to wait for further negotiations, while five per cent answered “I don’t know”.
The flare‑up in the transatlantic conflict is adding pressure on European leaders. Berlin and Paris are increasingly expected to formulate a coordinated line that signals a willingness to dialogue yet keeps the option of sharper retaliatory actions on the table.
The backdrop is a new escalation in the tariff dispute. Last summer the United States and the European Union reached an agreement that would cap EU tariffs on imports into the U.S. at a maximum of 15 %. The accord was seen as an important step toward stabilising trade relations and easing the burden on export‑oriented sectors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Today the U.S. administration threatens to impose higher duties on European goods. Such a reversal would cast doubt on the hard‑won compromise and could open the door to a new cycle of reciprocal trade measures. Observers warn that additional tariffs would not only hit specific industries; they would drive up supply‑chain costs, put pressure on investment decisions, and further strain Europe’s already fragile economic outlook.
