Sunday, July 12, 2026

Germany’s economy minister criticises U.S. tariff policy

Starting Wednesday, imports from EU countries to the U.S. will face new tariffs of 20 per cent.

• April 7, 2025
Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Outgoing German Economy Minister Robert Habeck criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policy on Monday, calling the idea behind it “fundamentally wrong”.

Mr Habeck argued that the assumption that trade surpluses or deficits were problematic is “wrong” as he arrived at an emergency meeting of European Union trade ministers in Luxembourg.

Starting Wednesday, imports from EU countries to the U.S. will face new tariffs of 20 per cent.

“In the end, globalisation serves all economies,” Mr Habeck said, noting that the U.S. economy has outpaced European economies in growth over the last 20 years.

He urged his EU counterparts to act collectively rather than seek individual advantages while warning against hasty reactions, stating that the EU has no immediate pressure to respond to the latest round of tariff announcements.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

PDP

Politics

2027: PDP uploads presidential, National Assembly candidates’ names on INEC portal

The PDP uploaded the names of its 2027 presidential, vice-presidential, and NASS candidates to the INEC nomination portal.

Car stand in nigeria

Economy

Car dealers express mixed reactions to lower vehicle import duties

Import duty on used vehicles was recently reviewed from 15 per cent to five per cent, while brand new vehicles dropped from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.

minister of justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi

Africa

Assets of illegal Nigerian immigrants proceeds of crimes, will be sold to compensate our citizens, says South African govt

She said Nigerians who stayed in the country illegally will not be compensated for the assets and properties they are leaving behind.

Lagos

Troops intercept truckload of illicit drugs on Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit consignment was being transported to the Berger area of Lagos State.

Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi [Photo Credit: Twitter]

States

Kogi bans roadside revenue collection, haulage fees

“Offenders will be treated as criminals and economic saboteurs and, upon arrest, will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he stated.

Map of Plateau State

States

Three-month-old, eight other family members killed in fresh Plateau attack

He said the attack began at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for more than an hour into the early hours of Sunday.