Research shows: Trump's tariff policy is severely impacting Germany's car exports.

A research report shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, German car exports to the United States have dropped by nearly 14%, becoming the German industry most severely affected by the trade war of the US President Trump. German engineering companies are also facing challenges due to the tariff system, with research from IW showing that exports to the US in this industry have decreased by 9.5% in the first nine months of 2025. Machinery exports have to bear a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum products imposed by the US. Exports from the chemical industry to the US have also dropped by 9.5%, but the report points out that this cannot be solely attributed to tariffs. The report states, "With chemical products, other factors may also play a role, such as a decrease in production due to rising energy prices in Germany." Overall, German exports to the US have decreased by 7.8% in the first three quarters, compared to an average growth of nearly 5% from 2016 to 2024. Research author Samina Sultan stated, "Since it must currently be assumed that US import tariffs will not return to their levels before the Trump administration in the foreseeable future, the likelihood of a significant rebound in German exports to the US is slim."