German Vice Chancellor Turns Down Trump’s German Car Comments

Germany’s vice chancellor, reacting to an interview with President-elect Donald Trump, has turned down cautions by Trump to put tariffs of 35 percent on German automakers if they established plants in Mexico in place of the United States and attempt to export vehicles to the United States from there.

“If you want to build cars in the world, then I wish you all the best. You can build cars for the United States, but for every car that comes to the USA, you will pay 35 percent tax,” Trump stated.

Sigmar Gabriel, who’s likewise Germany’s economy minister, was quoted Monday by the Bild as telling that such tariffs would make “the American auto industry worse, weaker and more expensive”.

Trump had further added that German automakers don’t behave fairly as many of the German cars are seen in the U.S., but some American cars in Germany.

Gabriel reacted that “the U.S. needs to build better cars”.

Beyond that, Gabriel recommended more self-confidence in handling Trump. He stated: “We’re not weak and inferior.”