Market access abroad is vital for export-oriented German industry. However, free trade agreements yield economic benefits only if companies make use of the customs advantages guaranteed in those accords. This is not always the case, as there is significant variance in tariff preference utilisation across EU Member States, partner countries, and sectors.

Germany is one of the winners of globalization. Like no other, German industry relies on open markets. The growing number of trade conflicts poses major challenges for European foreign trade policy. Christian Diemer, the chairman of the BDI Committee on Foreign Trade, speaks about the international orientation of our economy and the importance of the global regulatory framework and new free trade agreements.

The EU and Canada officially wrapped up negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in September 2014. Since September 2017, large parts of CETA have been applied on a provisional basis. However, for the agreement to be fully applied, all EU Member States must ratify the agreement. The CDU/CSU and the SPD should fulfill the obligations laid out in the coalition agreement and push ahead quickly with the ratification of CETA.

Digitalisation is an engine of economic growth in Europe and worldwide. The inclusion of digital trade rules in EU trade agreements would secure a level playing field for European companies across sectors and promote technology innovation. The European Commission should create a strategy on digital trade, explains Caroline King and Karolina Telejko of the German multinational software corporation SAP.