Metin Hakverdi, the German government’s Transatlantic Coordinator, has outlined strict conditions for any new trade agreement with the United States. “An agreement should only be pursued if it effectively shields us from further tariff retrenchments and the president’s additional geostrategic maneuvers” he told the “Tagesspiegel”, citing the Greenland case as a key example.
After the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, the possibility of a customs deal has taken on new significance, Hakverdi said. He insists the U.S. administration must first clarify the concrete effects of Trump’s latest tariff announcements. Only once that information is available, he said, should negotiations resume.
Last summer the United States and the European Union signed a trade pact, but it has yet to be ratified. A preliminary vote on the agreement was scheduled for the EU Parliament’s trade committee on Tuesday, but it was postponed after a special session on Monday. The EU wants the details in order before proceeding.
Hakverdi sees the European side as having a clear timetable. “The American side will likely push for a swift agreement, given that the president can impose the new tariffs for only 150 days” the SPD politician explained.
Coordinating closely across Europe is now paramount. Companies stress that the final outcome must be a reliable, enduring solution. “Our objective is explicit: stability and a fair deal” Hakverdi reiterated, adding that both elements must endure over time.
In his role, Hakverdi frequently travels to the U.S. and has heard from many Republicans a current demand for greater reliability. “A number of them view Washington’s current approach with growing skepticism” he said. “They worry that German and European investment in the United States-critical for economic dynamism and local jobs-may be jeopardised”.