
New Transatlantic Trade Deal ‘Burdens' German Auto Industry, Warns Group
The 15 percent U.S. tariff on European car imports will hit hard, warned Hildegard Mueller, president of Germany's main auto industry group, the VDA, adding to the woes of Europe's industrial powerhouse, which is already creaking under serious strain.

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Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What's in the US-EU trade deal depends on who is doing the talking
President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shook hands Sunday over a trade agreement touted as being largely concluded, but days later, there are still plenty of disagreements about exactly what is in the pact. Perhaps nowhere is the divide more stark than in the summaries published by each side — one from the White House and another from the European Commission. They depart in at least five areas, both in terms of the deal and the firmness of the commitments. In just one example, the White House summary touts "historic structural reforms and strategic commitments," while the Europeans call the handshake deal "not legally binding," with more negotiations to come. Trump quipped Sunday that a deal would be "the end of it" and that it would be a number of years "before we have to even discuss it again." That is unlikely to be the case, which even Trump's aides acknowledge. The difference is likely to come to a head quickly as negotiations continue between the US and Europe over legally binding text and as trade watchers wait for a formal joint statement on the deal that the teams still hope to unveil this week. A range of areas of disagreement Clarity on at least one headline area is clear: an agreement for 15% tariffs on nearly all EU goods, including autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, that will be exempt from separate Trump plans there. But the divides are evident once you go deeper. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that a lot remains to be worked out when he told CNBC on Tuesday that "there's plenty of horse trading still to do," even as he argued that the "fundamentals" are set. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Trump has also already set a pattern of fuzzy initial details on his deals, including a recent pact with Japan, but a comparison of the two documents summarizing the Europe deal underlines differences on many of the key aspects. On the issue of new investments by Europe — $750 billion in US energy and additional corporate investments of $600 billion — the summary from the US side described them as firm commitments. The European language is much less solid, saying it "intends to procure" additional energy and that European companies "have expressed interest" in additional investments. More differences are seen on whether the deal will mean European markets are "totally open," as Trump has said. The European summary of provisions around fish says they will allow "limited quantities" and only "certain non-sensitive" agricultural products. Another highly touted part of the agreement from the US side is a provision for Europe to purchase military equipment. As Trump said on Sunday, "They're going to be purchasing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of military equipment." That part isn't even mentioned in the European summary. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ceconomy CEO expects EU to conduct review of JD.com's takeover plans
DUESSELDORF (Reuters) -Ceconomy expects EU competition authorities to examine plans to take it over, said the German company's CEO, Kai-Ulrich Deissner, on Thursday. Given the size of the transaction, the plans are expected to fall under the purview of Brussels rather than Germany's federal cartel office, added Deissner in a conference call. With its Chinese partner, Ceconomy will be able to grow faster and gain access to leading technologies, he added. is acquiring Germany's Ceconomy in a deal that values the electronics retailer at 2.2 billion euros ($2.5 billion), allowing one of China's largest online retailers to expand outside of its home market. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Business Wire
23 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Titan SA: First Half 2025 Results
Global real GDP growth is forecasted to slow in 2025 to ca. 2.3%-3.0%, hindered mainly by trade tensions and policy uncertainty. Inflation should generally ease, while major central banks like the US Fed are expected to keep rates high until year-end. Although trade-related uncertainty has had little effect so far, rising tariffs remain a risk. These factors contribute to slower growth, weaker investment and a challenging global outlook for the second half of 2025. US real GDP growth is expected to remain subdued throughout 2025 due to ongoing challenges such as trade policy uncertainty, elevated tariffs and the short-term effects of higher interest rates. Corporate investment is projected to increase, with capital expenditures driven by reshoring efforts, AI/data-center infrastructure development and non-residential construction. Residential investment is anticipated to continue weighing on construction activity, with housing starts forecasted to decline in 2025 and building permits remaining low; commercial construction spending is expected to see modest growth in institutional and industrial sectors. Despite current challenges around financing and affordability, demand could rise once these constraints begin to ease. Continued focus on strategic investments is intended to support the Group's North American long-term growth plans. Greece's economy is expected to show solid growth for the remainder of 2025, with real GDP forecasted to rise well above the euro-area average. Investment activity remains a key growth driver, supported by disbursement of EU RRF funds, which continue to fuel public infrastructure, energy and construction-related projects. Private consumption is also set to remain firm, underpinned by steady wage growth, continued employment expansion and recent minimum wage increases. Construction activity is therefore poised to remain resilient, supported by public infrastructure and private-sector developments while the execution of major infrastructure projects should pick up as the year progresses with an attendant pick-up in residential activity next year. Titan markets in Southeast Europe are projected to grow by about 3.2% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand, recovering external trade, and increased public investment in infrastructure and construction. Construction and tourism are expected to fuel economic growth in Albania, while remittances will continue to stimulate investment in Kosovo. North Macedonia is planning a new wind-farm project that will enhance its energy infrastructure and Serbia and North Macedonia are making steady progress on key transport initiatives, including the Budapest–Belgrade–Skopje corridor. Bulgaria's economy should benefit from low unemployment and additional EU-funded infrastructure developments. Investment and construction are driving short-term growth, with infrastructure, residential, and cross-border transport projects increasing demand. However, risks like global trade uncertainty, political instability, and delays in EU fund absorption may hinder timely execution of investment plans. Egypt's economy is expected to maintain a recovery trajectory through the remainder of 2025, as reforms deepen and external support continues. While inflation remains elevated, it is gradually declining, and fiscal tightening is likely to persist. The construction sector is poised for robust growth supported by public‑private investment in infrastructure, urban and industrial developments with private investment accounting for more than half of total investment. To meet the increased demand, Titan is expanding its grinding and storage capacity in the country aiming to enhance export efficiency and broaden the scope of export markets. Economic growth in Türkiye is anticipated to moderate through the remainder of 2025, reflecting the tighter monetary and fiscal policies implemented since mid‑2023. The Group remains committed to a long-term presence in the country, with its recent divestment aligned with a broader strategy to optimize its portfolio. Amid an evolving macroeconomic environment, Titan remains firmly anchored in its Strategy 2026, continuing to combine operational discipline, market diversification and customer‑centric innovation to drive profitable growth. We are cautiously optimistic, anticipating better annual performance thanks to steady volumes, targeted pricing and greater efficiency across regions. Our continued investments in low‑carbon solutions, digitalization and bolt-on acquisitions enhance our resilience and reinforce supply‑chain strength. With solid financial positioning, we remain confident in delivering on our financial commitments while embedding long-term stakeholder value and delivering predictable performance through uncertainty.