Overview

• The United States has officially implemented a 20% tariff on European Union imports, escalating trade tensions between the two economies.
• EU member states are set to vote on initial countermeasures today, while signaling an openness to pursue a negotiated resolution.
• Economist Michael Hüther has criticized the tariff policy, likening it to an 'atomic bomb' on the global economic order and expressing skepticism about credible negotiations with the U.S.
• German authorities are addressing domestic issues, including a study revealing potential underreporting of maternal mortality, which may hinder healthcare improvements.
• In a separate legal development, two German shipowners are facing trial for illegal ship dismantling, marking a potential precedent for enforcing EU environmental regulations.