German officials emphasized the need for planning security for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, advocating for stability in trade relations. The President of the German Trade Association, Jandura, criticized the justification for the tariffs, asserting that the fight against forced labor should not be used to mask protectionist policies. The EU’s foreign affairs representative, Kallas, echoed these sentiments, describing the tariffs as shocking and unfounded when compared to labor rights standards in the EU. The new tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, affect 60 countries and replace a previous global tariff of 10% on US imports.