German Auto Lobby Presses US to Lift Section 232 Tariffs After Stalled Deal

Germany’s auto-industry lobby, the Verband der Automobilindustrie, said the recently negotiated EU-US agreement has yet to deliver clarity or tangible benefits for carmakers. In a statement on 7 Aug 2025 the group warned that uncertainty over trade terms continues to weigh on investment decisions across Europe’s largest manufacturing sector. The VDA called for the agreement to be finalised without delay and for accompanying relief measures to be implemented swiftly. It urged Washington to suspend Section 232 duties and scrap remaining sector-specific tariffs on European vehicles, arguing that the levies distort transatlantic supply chains and raise costs for consumers. The association also pressed the European Commission and the German government to step up their advocacy in negotiations with the United States, saying stronger political backing is needed to secure tariff relief and protect the competitiveness of Europe’s auto industry.