Germany updates: EU ministers to talk migration in Denmark – DW – 07/22/2025
EU interior ministers will meet in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, on Tuesday for talks on how best to combat irregular migration and organized crime.
Among them will be German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who last week already advocated a harsher European migration policy in talks with several counterparts, including on repatriations of rejected asylum-seekers to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a cyber espionage operation targeting Microsoft server software has compromised a large number of organizations, including some in Germany.
from the DW newsroom in the stately city of Bonn on the Rhine!
Problems associated with migration, particularly irregular migration, continue to be a political focus in Germany and the EU, with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt an advocate of restrictive policies.
He is thus likely to exhort his European counterparts to implement harsher measures at a meeting in Denmark on Tuesday that is to focus on the issue.
We will also be talking about teething pains with Germany's new digital system for sharing patient information between health care providers, and a hacking attack on Microsoft server software that might have led to massive data leaks in Germany, among other countries.
Read here to find out what Germany is talking about on Tuesday, July 22.
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DW
29 minutes ago
- DW
What next for US, China after talks end with no trade deal? – DW – 07/30/2025
Although no trade agreement has been reached, the US and China did agree to continue working towards extending the 90-day tariff truce, which is due to expire on August 12. Will the two rival superpowers strike a deal? The latest round of trade talks between the United States and China in Stockholm ended on July 29, with no deal in place. The 90-day truce announced in May after talks in Geneva paused an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies, who had threatened to impose tariffs of over 100% on each other. After the Geneva meetings, US tariffs on Chinese goods were reduced from 145% to 30%, while China's retaliatory tariffs dropped from 125% to 10%. While the two rival powers have signaled that they are open to extending the negotiations beyond the August 12 deadline and avoid tariffs surging to pre-Geneva levels, key differences remain unresolved after the talks in the Swedish capital. This latest round of negotiations "showed no material difference from the previous two" and still reflected "a case of waiting things out in hopes of a shift," Claus Soong, an analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin, told DW. Whether the pause will be extended now depends on US President Donald Trump, who is expected to decide after a full briefing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who led the US delegation in Stockholm, called the meetings "constructive," but he stressed that "nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump." US officials warned that failure to reach a deal could see tariffs on Chinese goods surge back to triple-digit levels. China confirmed efforts to prolong the 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs. The US-China trade dispute as well as the US leader's trade policies with most of his country's partners has caused global uncertainty and impacted economic growth. And while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the recent easing of some tariffs has helped raise its global growth forecast to 3%, it warned that higher tariffs would create more uncertainty that could lead to slower economic activity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dr. Patricia M. Kim, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's John L. Thornton China Center, told DW that recent weeks have seen both sides look to moderate their rhetoric, "signaling a mutual interest in creating the conditions for a leader-level meeting." While no agreement was announced, both sides seem to have "achieved their immediate objective from this meeting — to extend the trade truce, buying time to work toward a broader deal that Presidents Trump and Xi [Jinping] could endorse when they meet later this year," she added. There have been reports that the two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea being held from October 30 to November 1. Trump this week denied that he was "seeking a summit," although did not rule out traveling to China to meet with Xi Jinping. The US delegation went into the talks in Stockholm just days after Trump secured a deal with the EU, which many in the bloc say favors the US. The US has also recently signed deals with Japan, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, giving the trade delegation in Stockholm a boost as it renewed talks with China. But after a string of wins, Washington is finding out that striking a favorable deal with China might not be so easy. A core element of the standoff revolves around China's dominance over rare earth materials and US restrictions on AI chip exports. At trade talks in London in June, export controls were formally included in trade discussions, an unprecedented move that blurred the lines between trade and national security. After London, both countries signaled a potential easing of restrictions on rare earth and semiconductor exports. According to MERICS expert Soong, China has the upper hand in this area, as the "chip card" is less effective than rare earths. "China can leverage its control over the global market for rare earth materials and magnets," he said, which are crucial for the world's car, semiconductor and aerospace industries. "Rare earth control is the real pain point," Soong added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In February Trump imposed a 20% tariff, claiming China had failed to curb fentanyl precursor exports. While most of the Geneva-era tariffs were later scaled down, the 20% fentanyl-related tariffs remain in place. In what was widely seen as a gesture of goodwill and a bid to de-escalate trade tensions, in late June Beijing added two fentanyl precursors to its list of controlled substances. While that move raised hopes that the related duties might be lifted, Soong cautioned that "the fentanyl-related tariffs appear to serve primarily as a pretext." "Given that their removal would lower the overall tariff rate to just 10% — potentially below the levels applied to Japan and the EU — such a move seems improbable," he said. Soong added that even if the 20% fentanyl tariff is scrapped, "equivalent measures would likely be reintroduced under a different justification." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In an interview with Fox Business ahead of the Stockholm talks, Bessent pointed out that China accounts for 30% of global manufacturing exports. "It should not get any larger," Bessent said, adding that China's "is an unsustainable, historically the most imbalanced economy, thus a shift towards a domestic consumption-centered economy is necessary." Dr. Kim said that given Beijing's own recognition of those economic imbalances, US concerns about Chinese overcapacity or the need for consumer-driven growth may be manageable. She highlighted how some of their interests are aligned — namely Chinese purchases of non-strategic US goods, Chinese investment in non-sensitive US sectors, and cooperation on fentanyl. But when the negotiations go beyond trade and enter "the strategic realm, they will get more challenging," Kim said. "It's hard to imagine Beijing agreeing to side with the US against its strategic partners," she said, referring to the Trump administration pressing China on their purchases of Russian and Iranian oil. China, Dr Kim explained, will "certainly have demands" of their own, including pushing the Trump administration to adopt their preferred language and stance on Taiwan, and to commit to exempt export restrictions on high-tech goods. "Such issues that cut against the core strategic interests of both sides will prove more difficult to resolve," Kim said.
DW
29 minutes ago
- DW
Should India worry about China's massive dam? – DW – 07/30/2025
China's construction of a massive dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo has raised fears in India over water flows, agriculture and regional security. China began building a massive dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river near the disputed border with the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh — which Beijing also claims — earlier this month at a ceremony attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. It has sparked alarm in India given both the environmental risks and the potential leverage it offers China over water flow into northeast India and Bangladesh. The estimated $170 billion (€147.4 billion) hydropower project aims to generate 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, supplying power primarily for transmission to other parts of China and meeting local demand in Tibet. It surpasses the giant Three Gorges Dam's capacity, currently the largest in the world. Some experts and former diplomats believe the dam is likely to renew tensions between India and China, despite recent signs of a cautious improvement in ties, such as addressing border concerns. The two nations have accused each other of trying to seize territory along their de facto border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which India claims is 3,488 kilometers (2,167 miles) long and China says is shorter. After years of tension, both countries have renewed efforts to normalize relations. In January, both sides agreed to resume flights after nearly five years. Three months later, India and China's special representatives decided to move forward by resuming pilgrimages and border trade. However, the dam project introduces a major new fault line, as the ecological changes to the landscape are expected to trigger a range of geopolitical and environmental issues related to habitats and demography across the lower Himalayas. India considers the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) — a bilateral data-sharing framework — inadequate given the scale of dam project, as the ELM mainly provides information during the monsoon season, when flooding is a major risk. "In the long run, as India argues, it will not only trap nutrient-rich sediments vital for downstream soil fertility in Assam and Bangladesh, thereby affecting irrigation," Aravind Yelery, associate professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, told DW. The dam will "also impact crop yields and agricultural productivity, and compromise riverine ecosystems," Yelery added. In Yelery's estimate, the transboundary rivers and China's approach to unilaterally altering the riverine ecosystem is disastrous environmentally and diplomatically. "From a legal aspect, China is taking a felonious route to neglect its responsibility for preserving river flows due to geopolitical ambitions," said Yelery, adding that this has already had a profound impact on India's strategic approach to engaging in border talks. China took a similar stance on the Mekong River, asserting upstream control while constructing several dams. Since the mid-1980s, China has built 11 large dams on the Mekong (Lancang), with more underway. "China has not entered into riparian agreement with any of its neighbours even though it controls the headworks of most major rivers in Asia," Atul Kumar, a China expert and fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Beijing has adopted a similar stance in the Yarlung Tsangpo case and kept India and Bangladesh uninformed on these dam projects. Even the hydrological data sharing, a harmless technical detail, often depends on bilateral relationship and has often remained unavailable during tense periods," said Kumar. A statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun that the project "will not have any negative impact on the downstream regions" during a media briefing last week has been met with skepticism. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu described the Chinese mega dam project as a ticking "water bomb" and an existential threat that is a far bigger issue than the military threat. "The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they might do," Khandu told news agency PTI, stressing that China is not a signatory to the international water treaty that could have forced it to abide by global norms. Kumar also raised concerns over the dam's risk of failure, which "would always remain a ticking bomb for downstream areas in northeast India and Bangladesh." "In an unstable and earthquake-prone Himalayas, a natural disaster, conflict or even sabotage can bring destruction all over the downstream areas," said Kumar. Former diplomat Anil Wadhwa called for a consultative mechanism and said China should disclose details about the dam's capacity, water flows and alignments, once construction has been completed. "It is imperative that India takes all defensive measures in Arunachal Pradesh by constructing its own dam at the earliest," Wadhwa told DW. "The local opposition should be compensated and open communication with the affected community will help lest the issue spiral as we have seen with other mega projects in the country." That sentiment was echoed by former diplomat Ajay Bisaria, who told DW, "Given China's recent history of leveraging economic interdependence and trade as a geopolitical tool, India should assume China will weaponize the waters." "While China's willingness to do so is evident, its capacity and the technical feasibility are yet to be seen. To mitigate that risk, India must proactively assess and game the worst-case scenario," Bisaria concluded. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
How the EU-US trade deal extends beyond economics – DW – 07/30/2025
Europe's reaction to the EU-US trade deal was rather muted, with France and Hungary heavily criticizing the agreement. Experts say the deal may have geopolitical ramifications and continue Europe's reliance on the US. Though the details and effects of the trade deal between the European Union and the United States are just starting to take shape, many European business associations and politicians are already criticizing the agreement as unfair and expressing concerns over the economic consequences. Meanwhile, Brussels emphasizes that the deal goes beyond the economy. "It's not just about trade. It's about security. It's about Ukraine. It's about current geopolitical volatility," EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Brussels said on Monday. He told reporters that while he couldn't go into all the details of the talks between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, he could say for sure that they were about more than just trade. For him, it is a big plus that the two biggest economies and closest allies are on the same page when it comes to the geopolitical issues of today. On Sunday, von der Leyen and Trump agreed on the terms of a deal on future tariffs. The agreement provides for a basic tariff rate of 15% on most EU imports and exemptions for certain strategically essential products, among other measures. The agreement also contains provisions of geostrategic consequence. The EU is said to have promised the US that it will purchase strategic commodities such as gas, oil, nuclear fuel and AI chips worth $750 billion (€649 billion). The EU also plans to invest a further $600 billion in the US. EU countries are also expected to purchase military equipment from the US, though whether EU members need to guarantee these purchases remains unclear. The deal has received rather muted praise from EU member states, while France and Hungary have been very critical of the European Commission. Penny Naas, a policy analyst at the US-based think tank German Marshall Fund, said that the EU has not consistently leveraged its position as the world's largest single market. "They didn't always exert their strength," she told DW. "Geopolitically, Europe looked quite weak in how it conducted the negotiations and how it ultimately was given the rate coming out of this." Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow at the Jacques Delors Institute, finds it difficult to even describe the recent talks as negotiations. She argues that the EU's hands were tied due to its dependence on security guarantees from the US. According to Fabry, the framework conditions would have been entirely different if the EU had not needed US support to help defend Ukraine in its war with Russia. Trump's previous statements threatening to withdraw support from Ukraine have sent shockwaves in the EU. The bloc would unlikely be able to replace US aid financially or militarily. Both experts agree that the different interests of the member states and their lack of unity were problems during the negotiations. Fabry sees the so-called anti-coercion instrument as the only way for Europeans to apply pressure on and build credibility with the US. However, there was no agreement among the member states on its possible application. The anti-coercion instrument is designed to deter countries from exerting economic pressure on the EU. As a last resort, the EU can impose far-reaching countermeasures. The agreement also has geopolitical implications for the EU. Naas observes that the commitment to buy energy, AI chips and weapons "shows Europe's continued reliance on the US in other ways." Buying from the US is the "best of bad options" for the EU, she says, and makes it clear that Europe has not achieved strategic autonomy. French President Emmanuel Macron has coined the term "strategic autonomy" as a buzzword during the US-EU trade deal negotiations. This term essentially means that Europe should be as independent as possible from other powers. This independence should comprise the arms industry, energy and procuring critical raw materials. The deal also contains important geopolitical components with regard to China, Fabry told DW. This is because it appears to include commitments to coordinate on issues such as Chinese overcapacity, that is, production that exceeds Chinese market needs. The details are still unclear, according to Fabry. However, China is now worried the EU is aligning itself more closely with the US's anti-China approach. When asked about China on Monday, EU Trade Commissioner Seferovic emphasized that despite all efforts, the list of problems with the China was becoming longer. Even last week's EU-China summit did not produce the desired results. He said the US has the same issues with China in many areas. "So it goes without saying that we should work together with our allies." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
