As of: March 7, 2024, 10:19 a.m
By: Lisa Mahnke
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Habeck is fighting against protectionism in the heart of America.
He wants cooperation and a green economy.
The minister is optimistic – rightly so?
Washington, DC - Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (The Greens) traveled to the USA to promote less protectionism and more transatlantic cooperation.
“Only together can we overcome the current geopolitical conflicts, advance the green transformation and at the same time strengthen the innovative strength of our transatlantic economic area in the long term,” explained Habeck in a press release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Habeck in the USA: Small tip against Joe Biden too
However, there are also tendencies toward isolation under Joe Biden's government, the Economics Minister explained at a press conference on Wednesday evening (March 6, local time).
Habeck had previously set off on a three-day trip during which he met with government and company representatives in New York, the US capital Washington and Chicago.
Habeck is optimistic about less protectionism and travels through the USA for three days to hold talks for cooperation.
© OLIVIER DOULIERY / POOL / AFP
Republican primary leader Donald Trump has already said he will increase tariffs if he is re-elected.
The German Economic Institute in Cologne expects this scenario to cost billions in damage to the German economy, whose most important sales market is the USA.
Although Habeck explicitly did not want to comment on the US election campaign, the Green politician still found clear words in the direction of Trump.
Trump has “broken” cooperation: Habeck becomes clear
Looking back, it can be said that Donald Trump “destroyed” all cooperation formats, said Habeck.
“This cannot be in the interests of the Americans.
Nationalism harms the economy, harms peace and the people,” the
AFP
news agency quoted him as saying .
Habeck had already warned of arms problems if Trump were re-elected in December.
Siegfried Russwurm, the President of the Federation of German Industries, also traveled to the USA: “Not everyone in the USA is convinced of this,” he warned, with a view to shared growth in the United States and Germany.
At the same time, a 2023 Chicago Council poll showed that two-thirds of Americans still support restrictions on imported goods to protect American jobs - and the trend is rising among Republicans.
(lismah)