Following the extension of the tariff pause between the United States and China, the German economy is urging the European Union to take immediate action. Volker Treier, the Head of International Economy at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), told German newspapers that Europe must not end up marginalized or acting as a bystander.
While Treier characterized the extension of the tariff pause as “an important signal of de-escalation”-which initially brought greater planning security for German companies tightly connected to both markets-he stressed that these two additional months do not constitute a permanent solution.
He emphasized that durable agreements are now crucial, especially concerning export controls, critical raw materials, and key technologies. According to Treier, the EU must use this breathing space to strengthen its own economic position: strategically reducing dependencies, securing new trading partners, and speeding up the conclusion of agreements. He argued that the wider German businesses their supply chains and sales markets, the less likely they would find themselves caught between the trade policies of Washington and Beijing.
The agreement to extend the tariff pause between the US and China until January 10th was announced during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to US President Donald Trump in Washington.
