German auto exports hit hard by Trump tariffs, study shows
BERLIN, Dec 22 (Reuters) – German auto exports to the United States fell by almost 14% in the first three quarters of 2025, making the German industry hardest hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, according to a study seen by Reuters on Monday.
According to the agreement between Washington and Brussels, the United States has set a 15 percent basic tax on cars coming from Europe starting August 1; This is significantly lower than Trump’s initial rate of 25 percent on top of the current 2.5 percent tax.
German engineering companies are also struggling under the tariff regime; The study shows that exports to the US in this sector decreased by 9.5% in the first nine months of 2025.
Machinery exports are subject to a 50% US tariff on steel and aluminum products.
The chemical industry also saw exports to the country’s largest export market fall by 9.5%, but the report said this could not be attributed solely to tariffs.
“Other factors are likely to have played a role in chemical products, such as reduced production in Germany due to high energy prices,” the report said.
Across all sectors, German exports to the US fell 7.8% year-on-year in the three quarters; This follows average growth of approximately 5% over comparable periods from 2016 to 2024.
“A significant recovery in German exports to the US is unlikely, as it is currently assumed that US import tariffs will not return to pre-Trump administration levels in the foreseeable future,” said research author Samina Sultan, referring to the “new normal” for German exporters.
(Reporting by Rene Wagner and Rachel More; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
