Press statement – Berlin, 15 July 2021
"Germany and the EU would do well to position themselves confidently in the transatlantic relationship."
Commenting on the Chancellor's trip to Washington, BDI President Siegfried Russwurm, Chairman of the Transatlantic Business Initiative (TBI), says: "Germany and the EU would do well to position themselves confidently in the transatlantic relationship".
- "Germany and the EU would do well to position themselves confidently in the transatlantic relationship. The US and the EU must become strong partners in order to tackle major challenges such as climate change. An economically strong Europe is central to strengthening the assertiveness of Western values in the world.
- Suspending punitive tariffs in the dispute over aviation subsidies is a crucial step towards resolving trade conflicts. Tariffs on steel and aluminium imports continue to weigh on transatlantic trade. The US and EU should eliminate all tariffs on industrial goods.
- The EU and the US should align technical standards and mutually recognise conformity assessments wherever possible. Transatlantic economic trade must get back on track.
- US entry restrictions are straining transatlantic relations. German companies have major problems sending their employees to the US, even though the EU has lifted its restrictions on US citizens.
- Production in the USA, on which many US jobs depend, suffers from the entry restrictions. German companies are the largest group of foreign employers with a total of around 860,000 employees. It would be an expression of great trust to relax the entry regulations to the USA for business travellers from Germany again."
About the TBI
The TBI is the point of contact for economic policy issues, in particular for the Federal Government and the governments of the USA, Canada and the EU institutions. The initiative is supported by four business associations: the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) and the Association of German Banks (BdB).
Contact
Matthias Krämer
Head of Department Foreign Economic Policy, BDI e.V.
T +493020281562
F +493020282562
m.kraemer@bdi.eu