Klingbeil on the tariff dispute: "We will not go along with everything"

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil responded to US President Donald Trump 's new tariff threat with a warning. "Our hand remains outstretched, but we won't go along with everything," Klingbeil told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung." "If a fair negotiated solution fails, then we must take decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and companies in Europe," the SPD leader said. Countermeasures must "continue to be prepared."

Klingbeil: "Trump's tariffs only have losers"

The Vice Chancellor regretted Trump's announcement to impose 30 percent tariffs on goods from the EU starting August 1. "Trump's tariffs have only losers," said Klingbeil. "They threaten the American economy at least as much as they do companies in Europe. Therefore, this tariff conflict must be ended." Klingbeil called for de-escalation on both sides .

Following Trump's new tariff threats, the EU is continuing negotiations but has not ruled out countermeasures. The planned counter-tariffs on US products, however, will not take effect. The suspension of the measures will be extended until August, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. The planned counter-measures were originally suspended until Monday; this Saturday, the US president threatened new tariffs of 30 percent on EU products starting in August.

Rich: Negotiate a pragmatic solution

The head of the Trade Committee in the EU Parliament , Bernd Lange (SPD), called on von der Leyen to respond more robustly than before to the tariff threats from the US. "Trump's letter is outrageous," Lange told "Der Spiegel." "The EU should now immediately implement the countermeasures it has already decided on," he demanded.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU ) expressed hope for a "pragmatic negotiation outcome." The EU's goal is to "pragmatically negotiate a solution with the US that focuses on the major points of conflict," she explained. The EU Commission has Germany's support for this negotiating approach.

Macron insists on countermeasures

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "very strong disapproval" of Trump's threat. He called on the EU Commission to "vigorously defend European interests." It must now accelerate the preparation of "credible" countermeasures by all means in case no agreement is reached by August.

German industry also reacted with great concern: The tariffs announced by Trump are "an alarm signal for industry on both sides of the Atlantic," explained Wolfgang Niedermark, Executive Board Member of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). He called on the German government, the EU Commission, and the US government to "find solutions very quickly in a factual dialogue and avoid escalation."

At the beginning of April, the US President sparked a tariff conflict with trading partners around the world. Trump initially announced high import surcharges for the EU and numerous other countries, but then reduced them to a base rate of ten percent in order to conduct negotiations within a 90-day period.

USA: New basic tariff does not apply to cars and steel

He extended this deadline last Monday to August 1. Since then, the Republican has already sent letters to more than 20 countries announcing which tariff rates will apply to them starting that date. For Canada, for example, he recently announced a tariff of 35 percent.

According to the administration, Trump's announced 30 percent tariff on EU imports does not affect certain sectors – including cars and steel. When asked whether import surcharges on certain product groups such as cars, steel, and aluminum would be exempt, the White House responded to the German Press Agency's inquiry: "Correct, sectoral tariffs are treated separately and not cumulative." Currently, the US imposes a tariff of 25 percent on imported EU cars and auto parts, and 50 percent on steel and aluminum imports.

pg/pgr (dpa, afp, rtr)