BERLIN, Dec 22 (Reuters) – Germany’s auto exports to the United States fell by nearly 14% in the first three quarters of 2025, making it the German auto industry hardest hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, a study seen by Reuters showed on Monday.
Under an agreement between Washington and Brussels, the United States imposed a base tariff of 15% on cars from Europe from August 1, well below the 25% tariff initially set by Trump, plus the existing 2.5% tariff.
German engineering companies are also struggling under the tariff regime, with research showing the industry’s exports to the United States fell 9.5% in the first nine months of 2025.
The United States imposes a 50% tariff on machinery exports of steel and aluminum products.
The chemical industry’s exports to the country’s largest export market also fell 9.5%, although the report said this could not be blamed solely on tariffs.
“Other factors may have had an impact on chemical products, such as lower production in Germany due to rising energy prices,” the report said.
Across all sectors, German exports to the United States fell by 7.8% year-on-year in the three quarters, compared with an average growth rate of nearly 5% in the same period from 2016 to 2024.
“German exports to the United States are unlikely to see a significant recovery, as it must currently be assumed that U.S. import tariffs will not return to pre-Trump administration levels in the foreseeable future,” said study author Samina Sultan, referring to the “new normal” for German exporters.
(Reporting by Rene Wagner and Rachel Mohr; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
