German Trade With United States Drops, Blamed by Some on Animosity Over Iraq

AP ^ | July 7, 2003

[Mr. Mulliner]

German Trade With United States Drops, Blamed by Some on Animosity Over Iraq
The Associated Press
Published: Jul 7, 2003

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - German exports to the United States fell in May by 11.5 percent to euro5.1 billion ($5.9 billion) according to figures released Monday, a decline the country's wholesalers association blamed on tension between the two countries over the war in Iraq.

Others, however, blamed the drop on the slow U.S. economy and the sharp increase in the strength of the euro, which makes German products much pricier in dollars.

But the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade pointed out that the new Federal Statistics Office numbers showed that exports to China, which pegs its money to the dollar, rose by 21.7 percent, suggesting other factors than currency fluctuations at work.

"This cannot only be explained by the weak economy and the strong euro," said Andre Schwarz, spokesman for the federation. "The political disagreement must be one of the reasons... We can find no other explanation."

Economist Stefan Schneider at Deutsche Bank said it was unlikely that the dip resulted from anti-German sentiment, however, citing Mercedes' 3 percent rise in auto sales in the United States in the first half of the year.

"If there was any sign of anti-German sentiment, we would see it in car sales," he said.

He said that trade figure can fluctuate seasonally and that several months of data would be needed to establish any real trend.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I can't help but think that anti-German feelings has had at least some impact on trade, even if it's not the main factor.

Does anyone have recent figures on US trade with France?

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[cherry_bomb88]

Here's some toilet reading for you!!! :o)

Bureau of Economic Advancement (or something like that) International Trade Figures as of June 13

It's the WHOLE in-depth report. Have fun! :o)

[Burkeman1]

I think trade with France has been effected far more than Germany over the war issue. Germany has hardly been mentioned in boycotts and has had far less negative ublicity than the French have had. I think the drop is due to other factors. I have heard French wine sales have taken a big hit in the US.

[Bahbah]

I don't know. I won't buy anything if I know it is a German product. There just seem to be fewer, beyond the German wines and stuff like BMW's, which I wasn't planning on any time soon anyway.

[Burkeman1]

Yes- but when the average Joe thinks "boycott" France comes to mind way before Germany even though both were vocal against the war. The French did take active steps to get others against the war as well and the added notion of ingratitude on the part of France helped Germany escape a lot of negative publicity. The only German wine I know is one my father buys for Thanksgiving because it supposedly goes well with turkey (Gertzen I think it is called?) And would never buy a German car (cars depreciate and owning a car worth more than 20 grand is pointless regardless if you have the money to buy a "luxury" car.)

[Bahbah]

Could it be Gerwertz Traminer? And I only by 2 year old, non-luxury cars and keep them for 4 years. Great FReepers think alike.

[newgeezer]

Eat your effing Beemers, Benzes, and Farfrompoopins.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Here's some toilet reading for you!!!

You seem to assume that I am constipated.

[q_an_a]

I read that BMW sales are down.

[Burkeman1]

Yup! Thats the wine.

[Bon mots]

I won't buy anything French, German or Belgian. I also avoid Chinese products if at all possible, but that's becoming difficult these days, since everything will soon be made there.

I am probably not the only one.

[HassanBenSobar]

Yep. Forgive Russia, ignore Germany, punish France.

Undoubtedly the best statement of foriegn policy I've ever heard. It's great to see the 'punish France' part seeping into people's consciousness.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I would kind of think that BMW sales wouldn't take an immediate hit. It's a major purchase and something people presumably plan ahead for.

Smaller items don't require planning and would be more susceptible to boycotts. At least that's the way it seems to me.

[Michael81Dus]

You´re right that the French helped Germans a lot to get out of negative headlines. And most people forget, that more silent, the German government was willing to cooperate with DC. It´s not that they did nothing to support Bush - like France. The US bases in Germany were and many still are protected by German soldiers, they increased their forces in Afghanistan, they helped the Kuwaitis to live with the fear of NBC-attacks and they sent Patriots to Israel and Turkey. All together, not a very hostile behaviour, won´t you agree?

[Cicero]

As I recall, Germany forbad us to use their air space during the Iraqi war. No, the German people are not as bad as the French, but as long as Herr Schoeder and his pipsqueak green friend are in power I wouldn't buy any of their stuff.

[cherry_bomb88]

LOL...well, one would think that from the length of the report. However, that is the raw data before the left-leaning media sources all put their "slants" on it.

[Joe Boucher]

Let me tell you something there Mr. Mulliner.
I learned that Mitsubishi used American prisoners of war
as labor to build their planes during the second world war. I ridicule anyone i know or see in one of those anti American machines today.
Think I'm about to buy anything I can live without from germany Or france? I DON"T THINK SO.

[Michael81Dus]

You´re recalling WRONG. How could Germany forbid to use its airspace when on its ground are US airbases (most important of all: Ramstein). If Germany had done so, B-52 from UK had lost 4 more hours (just look on a map and try to find the shortest way from England to Iraq).

There was a story, that when wounded GI´s landed in Ramstein and were driven to the Landstuhl hospital, the German guards stood at the gates and - without any orders - saluted their wounded comrades.