German manufacturers and alcohol producers could benefit from closer trade ties with the UK in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping new US tariffs, according to leading audit, tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
The so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, announced by the White House this week, impose significant levies on imports from 60 countries. While the UK faces a 10% tariff, imports from the European Union will be hit with a 20% rate, creating new dynamics for global supply chains and exporters.
Nils Schmidt-Soltau, Head of the German desk at Blick Rothenberg, said the new tariff structure could present a “silver lining” for German businesses with a manufacturing footprint in the UK.
“The lower tariff on UK imports could be regarded as a silver lining for German businesses with a manufacturing presence in the UK, given the 10% rate announced for UK imports compared to the 20% rate on EU imports,” he said.
The changes could also open up new export opportunities for German alcohol producers. Germany is the EU’s third-largest wine exporter and the fourth-largest beer exporter, with the US as a key market. However, Trump’s new tariffs on beer and wine imports threaten to stifle that flow.
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