Skip next section Klingbeil pushes for steel quota as tariff deadline nears
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Klingbeil pushes for steel quota as tariff deadline nears
With just days to go before new US tariffs on EU imports take effect, has said he is seeking exemptions for Germany’s steel sector.
During a visit to Washington, Klingbeil said he would raise the idea of a quota system that could allow certain volumes of steel to be traded across the Atlantic at lower tariff rates — or possibly tariff-free.
“That would be very important for the and for many jobs in Germany,” he told reporters in Washington.
At the same time, Klingbeil, who is also Germany’s vice chancellor, expressed disappointment with the EU’s overall negotiations with the United States.
“I think we were too weak. We can’t be satisfied with the result that was achieved,” he said.
“We need to consider what actually came out of the past few weeks of talks.”
Klingbeil had previously warned that Germany would need to draw “consequences” from the outcome of the tariff talks. Speaking on public radio Deutschlandfunk, the center-left Social Democrat politician called the current state of global trade “a setback.”
The to end their long-running tariff dispute. The agreement, brokered by President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sets a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the US. The new rules are scheduled to take effect on August 7.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yVxR
Skip next section Germany to raise ‘mother’s pension’ — despite cash-strapped public coffers08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Germany to raise ‘mother’s pension’ — despite cash-strapped public coffers
Germany is to give older parents a higher pension than before, thanks to the Bavarian CSU.
But businesses and economists say the ‘mother’s pension’ is an extra burden on younger generations.
Read the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4yVVH
Skip next section Klingbeil calls for stronger coordination on tariffs ahead of US talks
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Klingbeil calls for stronger coordination on tariffs ahead of US talks
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 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yVr0
Skip next section German scientists search for climate clues in ancient ice08/04/2025August 4, 2025
German scientists search for climate clues in ancient ice
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.
Read the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4yV96
Skip next section Economy minister says Germany needs to ramp up chip production
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Economy minister says Germany needs to ramp up chip production
Economy Minister 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yUlH
Skip next section WATCH: Begging in Germany — out of options in a wealthy country08/04/2025August 4, 2025
WATCH: Begging in Germany — out of options in a wealthy country
Felix Pauschinger
In Germany’s cities, begging is a sad reality. Every day, people like Claude and Cecilia fight for survival – and their dignity.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yUfC
Skip next section Man electrocuted taking selfie on top of train in Cologne
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Man electrocuted taking selfie on top of train in Cologne
German police said Monday that a man electrocuted himself while taking a selfie, after climbing onto a stationary train at 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yUTm
Skip next section Why the birth rate in Germany continues to nosedive08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Why the birth rate in Germany continues to nosedive
Women in Germany are having just 1.35 children on average — a record low level.
Does this say something about the country’s state of prosperity, or is it a sign that women are asserting their rights?
Read the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4yTSH
Skip next section German lawmakers call for more scrutiny against unemployment benefit fraud
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
German lawmakers call for more scrutiny against unemployment benefit fraud
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 , 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yTus
Skip next section German police expands use of Palantir surveillance software08/04/2025August 4, 2025
German police expands use of Palantir surveillance software
Police and spy agencies are keen to combat criminality and terrorism with artificial intelligence.
But critics say the CIA-funded Palantir surveillance software enables “predictive policing.”
Read the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4yTUW
Skip next section Finance Minister Klingbeil in Washington for talks
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Finance Minister Klingbeil in Washington for talks
German Finance Minister (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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yT58
Skip next section Söder calls for halt to citizen’s allowance for Ukrainian refugees
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Söder calls for halt to citizen’s allowance for Ukrainian refugees
The premier of Bavaria, , 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yTKc
Skip next section Only 16% of Germans would ‘definitely’ fight for country: study
08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Only 16% of Germans would ‘definitely’ fight for country: study
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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yT5X
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage08/04/2025August 4, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag 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.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yT54
The post Germany updates: Finance Minister in US amid tariff tension appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
