Economics
To Add to Merkel’s Challenges: Trump’s Non-Stop Germany Bashing
- Chancellor faces escalating trade spat as she begins new term
- Export-driven German economy especially vulnerable in dispute
Merkel and Trump at the White House in March 2017.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Angela Merkel’s most immediate challenge when she resumes office no longer looks to be refugees, Russia nor even rising populism: It’s President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on Germany.
Like an itch he’s unable to stop scratching, Trump just can’t seem to leave Germany alone. Whether tariffs on steel, a proposed “tax” on imported cars or threats to penalize countries that fail to meet NATO defense-spending targets, Germany is the European country with most to lose.