Posted on 06/22/2018 4:44:25 AM PDT by GonzoII
STUTTGART (GERMANY) (AFP) -
An industrial powerhouse built on massive exports and a gigantic car industry, Germany is among the nations most sensitive to mounting trade tensions between the United States and other major economies.
US President Donald Trump has in recent weeks struck his first tariff blows at the European Union and China, who both vowed retaliation -- risking a tit-for-tat trade conflict on two fronts that could weigh on the global economy.
"Germany's second economic miracle is over," influential daily Die Welt wrote this week, comparing the years of steady growth since the financial crisis to the post-World War II reconstruction period.
Two respected economic think-tanks sharply lowered their growth forecasts, with Berlin-based DIW cutting its prognosis for this year by half a percentage point to 1.9 percent, and then again to 1.7 percent for next year.
Munich's Ifo institute was even more drastic, slashing its forecast to 1.8 percent for 2018 from 2.6 percent previously.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
Trade conflict, mein heinie. The Germany econony was already going south. Trump makes a handy dandy scapegoat.
The world economy grew at the expense of middle America. Thank you President Trump for thinking about the American people.
HaHa - Vie Vill bury you !!!!
I buy Berreta group products from here on out. The Italians make more sense than spiteful Germany. No HK, only Sako, Tikka, Vitrix, Benelli and Pardini for me
German arrogance (in light of their exports, lack of NATO support and tariffs) is still part of their culture, they can choke on Merkle, Obama , gun control and their migrant policy
As someone once remarked, I don’t care if they like us, but they better respect us (and what we can do).
For over 70 years we have provided protection to Europe, and we bought their products, and they figuratively spit on us.
Well Europe, you have woken the sleeping Eagle and he has very sharp claws.
The world economy grew at the expense of middle America. Thank you President Trump for thinking about the American people.
...
Exactly. And ungrateful Germany has benefited all these years from our military and the mountain of money we spend on it.
PDJT doesn’t bluff.
The Germans have been parasitic for many decades. Tough.
I’m recalling a period during the Reagan years when Germans would protest around US military bases. Then the US said it was going to close one or two. Protests ended in one helluva hurry.
HaHa - Vie Vill bury you !!!! ^^^^^^
** wrong accent, Mein Herr
We were due another thrashing of the Hun!
Note to the Germany:
Quit using the framework of the EU not for “free trade” but as a means of erecting tariff and non-tariff protectionist barriers on imports from outside the EU.
The German auto industry suggested a good start, in recommending the EU drop it’s tariffs on cars imported from the U.S. (25%, the U.S. tariff on cars from the EU is 10%).
It would not hurt Europe either if it got rid of many non-tariff protectionist EU rules reflecting EU snobbery on “protecting” the “purity” of some EU items, as with some foods.
For instance the EU rules on exactly what is “Parmesan” cheese, and many other cheeses are rigidly defined such that only cheese produced where and how Parmesan cheese orgiginates from can a cheese be labeled “Parmesan” anywhere in the EU. Makers of Parmesan cheese outside the EU have to call their Parmesan cheese something else in order to import it into the EU. Then the EU takes their draconian rules a step further. That kind of protectionist restriction is written into the official trade agreements the EU signs with other nations. They too cannot accept imports of “Parmesan” cheese into their country, if it does not meet rhe standard for Parmesan cheese imported inot the EU. These are draconian protectionist rules and they apply to be supposedly “originally unique” items made in the EU, not just cheeses.
Obviously the EU is not a “free trade” union, it is a protectionist trade union.
I think if someone dug out most of those draconian trade rules in the EU, that it would turn out that most do not originate from Germany. It would be good for a German business group to provide that list and get their government on board for breaking down trade barriers on imports to the EU.
Maybe it’s their crappy, overpriced, over-engineered cars that are bringing them down. Try owning a late model BMW, Audi, Mercedes, or VW. for that matter that is out of warranty. You’ll rue the day you ever bought one.
Their economy will only recover when they quadruple the number of 25 year old Somali children they take in who are fleeing the Syrian civil war or something.
For many decades following World War II, the Germans were protected by the United States. The Germans were free to spend their money modernizing their country and becoming economically strong. All the while, our military was ready to fight and die for them. Being ever grateful, the Germans refused to pay their fair share to NATO, and imposed tariffs on American imports that were higher than those imposed by the US on German goods. Now, we have a President who actually cares about our country and its workers. It is time for the Germans and others to accept that the President represents us and not them. If these countries want fair treatment then they must give us the same in return.
USA first. Deutschland unter Alles.
Me too!
But I think I’m going to go ahead and keep the H&K stuff I already have.
Dam I like their guns.
I think the US needs to reconsider the NATO alliance at this point. Turkey clearly is drifting into becoming a 7th century hermit country and the rest of Europe is inviting Mad Mo in and think the Russian bear is no longer a threat. So why stay in the alliance at this point?
The EU seems to be saying we are all about us but the USA cannot be all about the USA. The hard questions need to be asked: what is the upside for staying in NATO and keeping US bases across Europe open? What is the downside for disbanding NATO and bringing our forces home or redeploying them to the real hot spot of the world the Pacific?
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