Overview

• The government has narrowed the planned electricity tax cut to industry, manufacturing, agriculture and forestry, excluding households and small enterprises.
• Jörg Dittrich, president of the Central Association of German Crafts, says the U-turn on a universal power tax cut has caused a significant loss of trust.
• Measures like abolishing the receipt requirement and extending Sunday openings for bakeries have been shelved until after the parliamentary summer break due to budgetary reservations.
• Craftsmen and medium-sized firms face mounting pressure from rising social security contributions and labor costs without promised relief.
• The Central Association is urging the government to reverse its decision on the tax cut and to prioritize dependable support for the Mittelstand.