Germany updates: Finance Minister in US amid tariff tension – DW – 08/04/2025
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is in Washington on his first official visit to the US since taking office office.
Klingbeil is set meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade, global cooperation, and trans-Atlantic ties. The talks follow a key deal easing tariffs between the EU and the US, cutting duties on European imports to 15%.
The finance minister earlier told German media that "weaknesses" had been "exposed" during the wrangling over US tariffs.
Meanwhile, just 16% of Germans say they would be willing to take up arms in the event of an attack, a new study has revealed, while more than a quarter of those surveyed said they considered a military attack on the country within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely.
And Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder has called for a reduction in benefit rates for Ukrainian refugees in Germany.German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has urged closer international cooperation as he prepares to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Monday, following the European Union's recent tariff deal with President Donald Trump.
"I think that our weaknesses have already been exposed in the dispute with the Americans over customs duties," Klingbeil said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio ahead of the visit.
He called for deeper coordination with other key partners such as Canada and the United Kingdom, adding, "We must become stronger."
The EU and the US reached a compromise late last month after prolonged trade tensions.
The deal, brokered by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sets a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the US — down from a previously threatened 30%.
Klingbeil welcomed the agreement but said critical details still needed clarification. He admitted he had hoped for a more favorable outcome and stressed that his priority now was to protect German jobs and industries, particularly in the steel sector.
He also raised questions about elements of the agreement, including its impact on steel exports and the possibility of a quota system.
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German scientists drilled thousands of meters into the Antarctic ice sheet to retrieve the world's oldest ice sample.
They hope it could provide insight into today's climate crisis.
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Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said Monday that Germany and Europe must boost their position in the global chip market.
During a visit to the construction site of chipmaker Infineon's new factory in Dresden, the CDU lawmaker said semiconductor manufacturing is vital in maintaining Germany's economic resilience and its competitiveness as a business location.
The European Union currently accounts for around 8% of global semiconductor production, while the demand stands at 20%.
"That means we have to catch up," Reiche said.
Infineon is building a new chip facility in Dresden with €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in federal government funding contributing toward the total cost of €5 billion.
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In Germany's cities, begging is a sad reality. Every day, people like Claude and Cecilia fight for survival – and their dignity.
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German police said Monday that a man electrocuted himself while taking a selfie, after climbing onto a stationary train at Cologne central station.
Police said the man got too close to a power line and suffered severe burns as a result. He was taken to hospital and, while conscious, he said he climbed onto the train roof to take a selfie, the police statement said.
Even though he did not make direct contact, an electric arc was created with a current approximately 65 times stronger than that of a conventional power socket, police said.
Police have asked for people who may have witnessed the incident, which occurred on Sunday, to come forward.
Women in Germany are having just 1.35 children on average — a record low level.
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Lawmakers from Germany's governing coalition are calling for tougher measures against unemployment benefit fraud, amid growing concerns over rising costs.
"Those who exploit the system must be met with clear sanctions," Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) media group.
Wiese said he believes changes to the basic income support scheme, known as Bürgergeld, were necessary. The SPD politician also stressed that the majority of those who seek financial help while not working want to be in employment.
Wiese said he also wants to see an increase to the minimum wage.
Tilman Kuban, a lawmaker for the conservative Christian Democrats, which leads Germany's coalition along with the SPD, also called for more scrutiny regarding unemployment benefits.
"The new basic income can only be for those who really need help — not for those who don't want to work," he told RND.
In 2024, the state paid out some €46.9 billion ($54.3 billion) in basic unemployment support to around 5.5 million people. That was around €4 billion more than in 2023, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Police and spy agencies are keen to combat criminality and terrorism with artificial intelligence.
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German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) is in Washington on Monday for talks with his US counterpart Scott Bessent, a week after the EU agreed with the United States on a 15% tariff for most European goods.
The pair are expected to discuss issues related to trade while also maintaining and expanding the transatlantic partnership, the Ministry of Finance said ahead of the trip.
Klingbeil will also meet with World Bank President Ajay Banga and civil society actors to discuss issues of global security and sustainable growth.
The premier of Bavaria, Markus Söder, said it is time to reduce the benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Germany.
Söder is in favor of offering Ukrainians lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, as opposed to the citizen's allowance, which is currently in place.
In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, Söder said he is in favor of reducing benefits for certain Ukrainian refugees.
Söder said there should be "no more citizen's allowance for all those who have come from Ukraine."
The citizen's allowance in Germany is a state welfare benefit given to those with little or no income to ensure a minimum standard of living.
Around one in six Germans say they would join the military in the event of a conflict or a call to arms, a new survey revealed on Monday.
Conducted by the research institute Forsa for the RND media group, the poll recorded that 16% of participants said they would "definitely" fight, while another 22% said they would "probably" do so.
However, 59% said they would "probably not" or definitely not be willing to defend Germany in the event of an attack. Among women, that reluctance is 72%.
More than one in four respondents (27%) said they considered a military attack on Germany within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely.
Meanwhile, 59% of respondents said they felt it was likely that Germany would have to provide military assistance to another NATO member.
Around 1,000 citizens took part in the survey which was carried out on July 28 and July 29, amid heightened debate regarding Germany's defense preparation and increased spending in this area.
According to Forsa, the results carry a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
In May, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that Berlin accepts in principle the demand from the United States that NATO member states increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Currently, Germany spends around 2% of its GDP on defense.
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from the DW newsroom.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is in Washington for talks with his US counterpart Scott Bessent.
Elsewhere, Markus Söder has called for an end to the citizen's allowance for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, preferring to offer lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
A survey of around 1,000 German citizens has been conducted, amid heightened discussion over the country's defense readiness.
Follow us for stories on how Germany is coping with the myriad of challenges faced by many countries today, as well as a general roundup of the major talking points regarding Europe's largest economy.
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