• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
PoliticsTariffs and trade
Europe

Germany warns U.S. ‘nothing off table’ if auto tariffs aren’t withdrawn

By
AFP
AFP
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 28, 2025, 11:53 AM ET
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz.RALF HIRSCHBERGER/AFP via Getty Images

Germany said Friday it hopes the EU and United States can negotiate an agreement on US auto tariffs but the bloc was ready to retaliate, warning: “Nothing is off the table.”

Recommended Video

US President Donald Trump this week announced 25-percent US duties on foreign-made cars, light trucks and vehicle parts, sparking criticism from world powers and sending stock markets into a tailspin.

The levies are due to take effect Thursday next week but Germany, the eurozone’s biggest economy and a major car manufacturer and exporter, noted that the European Union was seeking “intensive dialogue” with the United States.

Stressing “there are only losers” in trade disputes, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said: “We are trying to reach a solution”.

“At the moment (the EU) still hopes and aims to reach an agreement in talks with the United States that can possibly avert a trade war,” he said in Berlin.

He added however that if the talks do not yield results, “it is clear that Europe can and will impose countermeasures”.

“At the moment nothing is off the table, everything is being looked at,” he said, without giving further details.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen previously said she “deeply” regretted the US auto tariffs and the EU would “continue to seek negotiated solutions”.

Before the duties come into force, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic held talks in Washington with Trump administration officials.

Trump has also threatened more sweeping tariffs against the bloc, which runs a large trade surplus with the United States.

German carmakers such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes, already under pressure as their business in key market China suffers, stand to be hit particularly hard by the new US duties.

Berlin has come out strongly against Trump’s move, with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saying Thursday that the US tariffs would ultimately backfire.

“Whoever demolishes the whole house with a wrecking ball only because the roof needs to be re-tiled will ultimately stand before ruins,” she said.

Join us at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit May 19–20, 2026, in Atlanta. The next era of workplace innovation is here—and the old playbook is being rewritten. At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work. Register now.
About the Author
By AFP
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Politics

Asiageopolitics
Air strikes on casinos, colonial borders and a failed Trump ceasefire: What’s happening in the Thai-Cambodia conflict
By Angelica AngDecember 16, 2025
2 hours ago
PoliticsiRobot
Roomba bites the dust: iRobot files for bankruptcy, but don’t worry—your robot vacuum should still work
By Molly Liebergall and Morning BrewDecember 16, 2025
2 hours ago
Susan Monarez
PoliticsHealth
Gavin Newsom hires former CDC officials to work as public health consultants for state of California
By Sophie Austin and The Associated PressDecember 15, 2025
16 hours ago
Claire Lai
AsiaHong Kong
Imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul would find God and cease political activity if he were released, daughter says
By Didi Tang and The Associated PressDecember 15, 2025
17 hours ago
Trump
PoliticsWhite House
Trump may have hit a new low as he blames Rob Reiner’s death on ‘Trump derangement syndrome’
By Michelle L. Price and The Associated PressDecember 15, 2025
17 hours ago
A woman takes a bag of groceries during a free food distribution for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) organized by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and The Jewish Federation at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on November 9, 2025.
PoliticsSNAP
Trump vows to fight ‘fraud’ in SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans
By Geoff Mulvihill and The Associated PressDecember 15, 2025
20 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
'I had to take 60 meetings': Jeff Bezos says 'the hardest thing I've ever done' was raising the first million dollars of seed capital for Amazon
By Dave SmithDecember 15, 2025
22 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Meetings are not work, says Southwest Airlines CEO—and he’s taking action, by blocking his calendar every afternoon from Wednesday to Friday 
By Preston ForeDecember 15, 2025
24 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Sorry, six-figure earners: Elon Musk says that money will 'disappear' in the future as AI makes work (and salaries) irrelevant
By Orianna Rosa RoyleDecember 15, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, December 15, 2025
By Joseph HostetlerDecember 15, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Deloitte's CTO on a stunning AI transformation stat: Companies are spending 93% on tech and only 7% on people
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 15, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
North America
Ford writes down $19.5 billion as it pivots electric Lighting line of vehicles
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 15, 2025
18 hours ago