The German Association of Machine Tools and Plant Engineering (VDMA) welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on U.S. trade policy. “We welcome the Supreme Court decision declaring the reciprocal U.S. tariffs unlawful” said Oliver Richtberg, VDMA’s head of international affairs, in a Friday interview with Politico’s “Industry and Trade” newsletter. “This signals that rule‑based trade and legal certainty are preserved”.
Yet uncertainty remains for European companies. Richtberg cautioned that President Trump has several legal bases under which he could impose global tariffs again. “We fear that a 15 % duty on EU imports could be re‑introduced soon” he added. The practical impact of the decision is still unclear.
The Chemical Industry Association (VCI) also sees no reason for calm. Wolfgang Große Entrup, VCI’s CEO, said the Supreme Court drew a clear line: “Political arbitrariness ends where the rule of law begins”. He described the ruling as a firm stop signal against an arbitrary tariff policy, but stressed that there is no reassurance of stability. “For our companies, a phase of stability begins now? No, a new round of uncertainty begins. Thinking the trade dispute is over is mistaken. New duties on alternative legal grounds are always possible” he said. “Trade‑policy turbulence will not disappear-they simply change the playing field”.