Unfavorable, Despite Lower Rate
An American import duty of 15 percent burdens the German auto industry. This is according to the VDA, the most important automotive industry organization in Germany, despite the lower rate.
According to VDA President Hildegard Müller, this import duty costs German car companies billions annually. The European Union and the United States concluded a trade agreement on Sunday with a general levy of 15 percent. This rate also applies to the automotive industry, where a levy of 27.5 percent previously applied.
The details of the deal are not yet known. “It is now important what the agreement looks like in concrete terms and how reliable it is,” says Müller. The United States is an important export market for the German auto industry. The VDA has been very critical since the introduction of the levies in April by US President Donald Trump.