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☆ Trump victory deals latest severe blow to a struggling Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Krisztian Bocsi | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesDonald Trump's election as U.S. President could mark yet another major blow for the struggling German economy. The print came after the German economy ministry in October said it was now expecting the country's economy will contract, rather than grow this year. Trump's victory could make matters worse. Reliance on exportsThe German economy is heavily reliant on exports — and Trump is set to slap tariffs and other restrictions on imports. The German statistics office Destatis last month said that the U.S.' importance as a trading partner for Germany has been growing.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Germany's, Krisztian Bocsi, Donald Trump's, Moritz Schularick, Trump, Schularick, ifo, Morningstar DBRS, Lisandra Flach Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, PMI, P Global, Hamburg Commercial Bank, Kiel Institute, Trump, Reliance, China, Beijing, Destatis, ifo Center, International Economics, European Union, EU Locations: Berlin, Germany, Federal Republic of Germany, Europe, U.S

☆ Lula in Berlin for First Brazil-Germany Talks in Eight Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

He is expected to have dinner on Sunday with fellow leftist, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before the consultations on Monday. Scholz was the first foreign leader to visit Lula in Brazil, just weeks after his inauguration. The German Chancellor has been on a quest since taking office in late 2021 to improve ties with the Global South. Scholz will be hoping to avoid a scenario like in January when his visit to Brazil was overshadowed by differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lula last month said Israel was "committing terrorism" against Palestinians "by not taking into account that children are not at war, that women are not at war".

Persons: Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German Locations: Berlin, America, Brazil, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ueslei Marcelino, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Berlin, America, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

☆ German industrial projects in steel, chips, batteries at risk from court ruling -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Steel coils are waiting for delivery at the storage and distribution facility of German steel maker ThyssenKrupp in Duisburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. That put numerous projects in key areas for Germany's industrial competitiveness at risk, the sources, who declined to be named, warned. In the steel industry, businesses planned to invest 6 billion euros ($6.54 billion) in decarbonised steel production, directly and indirectly employing around 20,000 people. Investments in microelectronics were bundled into the KTF, totalling 31 projects relying on an estimated 4 billion euros in government funding. Numerous projects along the battery supply chain were submitted as outlines for funding applications, the sources said, with an investment volume of around 20 billion euros.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Markus Wacket, Victoria Waldersee, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Transformation, Investments, RIC, Infineon, Intel, Thomson Locations: Duisburg, Germany, Dresden, Magdeburg

☆ Siemens Energy clinches state guarantees as it posts a 4.6 billion euro annual loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Siemens Energy has secured 7.5 billion euros ($8.15 billion) in project-related state guarantees from the German government, hours before announcing a nearly 5 billion euro loss for its fiscal year. Problems with manufacturing faults at its wind turbine subsidiary Siemens Gamesa led Siemens Energy to scrap its profit forecast earlier this year. The guarantees are intended to insure the company's customers on prepayments and execution of contracts in order to shore up its huge 112 billion euro order book. On Wednesday, the company reported an annual net loss of 4.6 billion euro for its fiscal year, compounded by a fourth-quarter net loss of 870 million euros. The company denied the fiscal guarantees constitute "state aid," with Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch telling CNBC on Wednesday that there is no cash involved.

Persons: Christian Bruch, Bruch, it's, CNBC's Organizations: Siemens Energy, Siemens AG, Private, Siemens, CNBC

☆ Siemens Energy shares recover further as guarantee talks continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT/BERLIN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares in Siemens Energy continued their recovery on Monday, topping Germany's blue-chip index as concerns over the group's ability to post guarantees for big industrial projects eased. Siemens (SIEGn.DE), which owns a 25.1% stake in Siemens Energy, was up 1.6%. News of the talks pushed Siemens Energy's shares to a record low last week on concerns the issue around guarantees could have an impact on the group's balance sheet. Around half of that, or about 15 billion euros, needs to be covered by the government, banks and Siemens, the sources said.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Joe Kaeser, Kaeser, Christoph Steitz, Markus Wacket, Rachel More, Mark Potter Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Siemens, German Economy Ministry, Reuters, Welt, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, FRANKFURT, BERLIN, downpayments

☆ Explainer: Why is Siemens Energy seeking $16 billion state guarantees?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. To make sure it can get the guarantees to fulfil its order backlog, Siemens Energy has turned to the government. Siemens owns a 25.1% stake in Siemens Energy and has not ruled out helping. Siemens still provides around 7 billion euros of performance guarantees to projects Siemens Energy is working on, significantly down from the 40 billion euros at the time of the spin-off around three years ago. Apart from seeking guarantees from the government, banks and Siemens, Siemens Energy said it is "evaluating various measures to strengthen the balance sheet", without elaborating further.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Banks, Roland Busch, hade, Andreas Rinke, Christoph Steitz, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Pablo Mayo, Alexander Huebner, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Josephine Mason, Susan Fenton Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Siemens, International Chamber of Commerce, German Economy Ministry, SIEMENS, Triton, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, downpayments, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Munich

☆ Siemens Energy shares slide 39% after company seeks guarantees from German govt
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. The weekly said Siemens Energy is seeking up to 15 billion euros in guarantees. Siemens remains an anchor investor in Siemens Energy, retaining a 25.1% stake. The government was ready to help Siemens Energy while stakeholders also will have to play their role, they said. J.P. Morgan said in a note that the energy transition will require substantially higher rates of investments, which will bring commercial opportunities for Siemens Energy and sector peers.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Siemens Gamesa, WirtschaftsWoche, Morgan, Matthias Inverardi, Christian Kraemer, Alexander Huebner, Vera Eckert, Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray, Sabine Wollrab, Rachel More, Jan Harvey, Susan Fenton Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Companies Company, Siemens, Siemens AG, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Spiegel, European Commission, Siemens Gamesa, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, BERLIN, Berlin

☆ EU to analyse US tech curbs in China, says issue also key to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The European Commission will analyse the U.S. ban on new U.S. investment in China in sensitive technologies as the issue is also important to the European Union's economic security, the EU executive said on Thursday. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order to prohibit or restrict U.S. investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies and certain artificial intelligence systems. "We will be analysing the Executive Order closely. We are in close contact with the US administration and look forward to continued cooperation on this topic," a Commission spokesperson said in an email. "We recognise the significance of the topic, which was an important element in the recent Joint Communication on economic security."

Persons: Joe Biden, Foo Yun Chee, Andreas Rinke, Rachel More, Jason Neely, Matthias Williams, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, Wednesday, EU, Member States, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, China, Russia, Berlin, Brussels

☆ China targeting German tech 'through back door' with licences - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Reinhard Becker | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of Germany and China are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschBERLIN, Aug 9 (Reuters) - China is going after licences to boost its access to German technology as investment regulation makes company acquisitions in the sector increasingly difficult, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing a study. Tech licences are one way for China to try to get in "through the back door", he told Reuters. As a result, direct investments and takeover bids by Chinese companies have attracted scrutiny in Berlin in recent months. Through licensing agreements, Chinese companies can gain legal permission to use German technology.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Li Qiang, Fabrizio Bensch BERLIN, Juergen Matthes, China's Cosco, Rachel More, Kirsti Knolle, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Tech, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Germany, China, Berlin, Russia, Hamburg

☆ TSMC to decide in favour of German factory on Tuesday - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) logo is seen while people attend the opening of the TSMC global R&D center in Hsinchu, Taiwan July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File PhotoBERLIN, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC's (2330.TW) board of directors will decide in favour of building a factory in the German city of Dresden, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Monday, citing government sources. The German government will support the construction of the factory with 5 billion euros ($5.49 billion), according to the sources. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, has been in talks with the German state of Saxony since 2021 about building a fabrication plant, or "fab", in Dresden. It will operate the factory in a joint venture with partners Bosch (ROBG.UL), Infineon (IFXGn.DE) and NXP (NXPSM.UL), the sources told Handelsblatt.

Persons: Ann Wang, Bosch, Handelsblatt, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Infineon, European, Intel, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, German, Dresden, Saxony, Berlin, Europe, Brussels

☆ Poland finds leak on one part of Druzhba oil pipeline from Russia to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A view shows a leak detected in Druzhba oil pipeline as reported by Polish pipeline operator PERN, in Chodecz, Poland August 5, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. The leak was detected near Chodecz, central Poland, on one of the two lines of the western section of the Druzhba through which crude oil reaches Germany, PERN said. Germany stopped buying Russian oil in January, but German media have reported that Kazakh oil was being imported through the line. The Druzhba oil pipeline is one of the world's largest and can carry 2 million barrels per day. Flows through the Druzhba pipeline have dropped sharply since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and pipeline infrastructure has been hit several times since in attacks that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine.

Persons: Anna Trzeciakowska, Grzegorz Jankowski, Vera Eckhert, Pavel Polityuk, Frances Kerry, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS Companies, Firefighters, State Fire Services, TVN24, German Economy Ministry, Thomson Locations: Chodecz, Poland, WARSAW, Russia, Europe, Moscow, Ukraine, Germany, Wloclawek, Eastern, Central Europe, Belarus, Nord, Baltic

☆ German firms to receive 4 bln euros through EU microelectronics push
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 8 (Reuters) - Over 30 microelectronics projects in Germany will receive about 4 billion euros ($4.29 billion) in funding after the European Commission approved a support scheme for such technologies, the German Economy Ministry said on Thursday. "The 31 microelectronics projects from 11 federal states strengthen Germany as a microelectronics location across the board and are an important industrial policy milestone," said Economy Minister Robert Habeck. A document provided by the German economy ministry showed Infineon (IFXGn.DE), Elmos Semiconductor (ELGG.DE) and Robert Bosch [RIC:RIC:ROBG.UL] among the companies to receive funds. The economy ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the report. ($1 = 0.9316 euros)Reporting by Miranda Murray Writing by Rachel More Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Robert Bosch, Habeck, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers Organizations: European Commission, German Economy Ministry, European, Infineon, Elmos Semiconductor, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, German, Hamburg, Netherlands

☆ Huawei ban would have significant impact on German mobile network -ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, March 17 (Reuters) - A ban on certain components by Chinese companies Huawei (HWT.UL) and ZTE (000063.SZ) could have a significant impact on Germany's mobile network if they have to be replaced on a larger scale, according to a German economy ministry letter seen by Reuters. The German government is currently carrying out a review of telecom tech suppliers which it says is not directed at specific manufacturers. The precise impact on mobile operators and other economic players is not possible to assess, the ministry added, as it depends on individual decisions as well as transition periods. Critics of Huawei and ZTE say that their close links to Beijing's security services mean that embedding them in mobile networks could give Chinese spies and even saboteurs access to essential infrastructure. Huawei, ZTE and China's government reject such claims, saying they are motivated by a protectionist desire to support non-Chinese rivals.

☆ Intel wants 10 bln euros of government funding for plant in Germany -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) has provided the German economy ministry with a new calculation for a planned chip factory in the city of Magdeburg that considers almost 10 billion euros ($10.74 billion) of government funding to be necessary, business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. An Intel spokesperson declined to comment on the figure in Handelsblatt but was quoted as saying the group was "working very closely with government partners to close the critical cost gap". The company explains that its new demand, which exceeds the already approved funds of 6.8 billion euros ($7.3 billion), was necessary due to higher energy costs and that it would like to use a more advanced technology in the plant than initially planned, Handelsblatt said. ($1 = 0.9308 euros)Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; editing by Matthias WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BERLIN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck has called for cooperation in green investments between Europe and the United States ahead of meetings in Washington next week with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other officials. "The USA is now gearing its economy towards green markets and driving forward cost reductions in the development of climate-friendly technologies," Habeck said. EU governments are worried the IRA could not only put European producers at an unfair disadvantage but lure investment away from Europe to the United States. They are likely to want to explore exceptions when the United States implements the plans. The talks will be focused on the U.S. subsidy package in the context of future trade relations between the EU and the United States.

☆ Germany Sees Its Economy Growing This Year Despite the Ukraine War
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

German has avoided the worst-case scenarios for its economy, Economy Minister Robert Habeck says. FRANKFURT—The German economy will grow this year and might even avoid a shallow recession in the short term, the government said on Wednesday, the latest sign of brightening growth prospects in Europe despite the shock of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s largest economy is likely to expand by 0.2% this year, the German Economy Ministry said Wednesday in its annual economic report, revising up an autumn forecast for a 0.4% contraction.

☆ Siemens Energy signs agreement to develop Iraq's power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Siemens Energy AG FollowBERLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) plans to boost its cooperation with Iraq in the coming years, the company said on Friday, as its CEO inked a deal with the Iraqi government to develop the country's power network. Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali to provide an additional 11 gigawatts for local power production, a statement from the German Economy Ministry said. "Siemens Energy will play a key role in in this development," Habeck added. The planned projects include constructing and developing power generation facilities for both conventional and renewable energy sources, the ministry statement said. Electrification of large parts of an entire country is therefore one of the most important tasks of our business," Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch said in a statement to Reuters ahead of the meeting.

☆ German economy ministry calls for joint EU response to U.S. inflation act
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Germany wants a joint European response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act that would involve simplifying rules on state support and expanding funding opportunities, according to a German economy ministry document seen by Reuters on Friday. The ministry document also suggests member states could anchor sustainability criteria more firmly in public tenders at the national level as well as extend or increase traditional subsidy programmes, but warned against local content requirements which favour domestic industry. These would not only likely contradict World Trade Organization (WTO) law, according to the document, but also contribute to "a further erosion of the world trade order". The EU and Washington have established a joint task force in hope of resolving the dispute over the $430 billion act. (This story has been corrected to specify that the document is from the economy ministry, not finance ministry; and to clarify in the headline that the ministry calls for, not lays out, a joint response.)

☆ German government not planning blanket Huawei ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BERLIN, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Germany does not want to follow the United States in generally banning products made by Chinese telecoms equipment makers such as Huawei, but will continue making such decisions on a case-by-case basis, an Economy Ministry spokesperson said on Friday. A German Economy Ministry strategy paper seen by Reuters on Thursday detailed recommendations to increase the level of scrutiny on the use of components from certain states. The paper mentions legislation introduced in Germany in 2020 that set high hurdles for makers of telecommunications equipment for next-generation networks, such as Huawei. When asked whether it expected a tightening of rules or even a ban in Germany or the European Union, Huawei told Reuters on Friday it relied on constructive and facts-oriented dialogue. Representative Michael McCaul, top Republican on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Germany was "jeopardizing its own national security and that of Europe's" in its decision on Huawei.

☆ German economy ministry plans subsidies for climate-friendly production -document
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Moushumi Basu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - German Economy Minister Robert Habeck plans to award companies in energy-intensive industries like chemicals and steel 15-year subsidy contracts if they reduce carbon emissions in their production, a document seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed. According to the document, which still needs to be discussed with other ministries, companies which demonstrate that they are reducing emissions in their production process will qualify for upfront investment and annual funding. With the price of conventional production rising due to increasingly expensive carbon pollution payments, the state will be able to be reimbursed by companies if their carbon costs rise higher than the initially more expensive carbon-free production methods. "Climate protection contracts therefore not only lead to a reduction in emissions from the subsidized industry," Habeck's document read. "They also provide an incentive for the technologies and infrastructure required for this to be developed and implemented in Germany now."

☆ Exclusive: Poland seeking German support to sanction Russian Druzhba oil pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The EU has pledged to stop buying Russian oil via maritime routes from Dec. 5 but Druzhba is currently exempt from sanctions. The southern section of the pipeline supplies Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic which, unlike Poland and Germany, would struggle to diversify their oil imports. Poland and Germany promised in spring to try to end Russian oil imports via Druzhba's northern leg by the end of year but Orlen remains tied to its contract with Russian oil and gas company Tatneft. The company has already cut its reliance on Russian oil to 30% of its requirement, replacing it with deliveries from Saudi Arabia and Norway among others. Kommersant newspaper reported earlier this month that Orlen had submitted an application to the Russian oil pipeline operator Transneft for the supply of 3 million tonnes of oil to Poland through Druzhba in 2023.

☆ Germany nationalises Sefe to oust Gazprom, secure gas supply
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Germany will nationalise gas importer Sefe, formerly known as Gazprom Germania, the economy ministry said on Monday, in a move to protect it from bankruptcy and force Russia out of the company. Sefe was dropped by Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) earlier this year and put under German state trusteeship in April. It has since received close to 10 billion euros ($10.3 billion) in state-backed credit lines. Under the ordered measures, Sefe will then issue new shares to the same nominal amount that will be subscribed by Germany. In addition to the nationalisation, Berlin also announced that it would boost Sefe's loan from state lender KfW to 13.8 billion euros from a previous 11.8 billion euros.

☆ German economy ministry wants to skim electricity windfall profit from November - draft paper
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Germany's economy ministry wants to begin skimming off electricity providers' windfall profits retroactively from November, according to a draft paper seen by Reuters. Only plants with output of more than one megawatt would be affected, and storage, hard coal, gas and biomethane would be excluded, according to the proposal from the ministry. The draft paper proposes skimming off 90% of reference revenues plus a surcharge of 3 cents per kilowatt hour on the spot market. Renewables can keep a further 4% of the monthly base price, said the paper seen on Wednesday. Reporting by Markus Wacket, Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese investments in German semiconductor industry face higher hurdles - econ minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Chinese investments in Germany's semiconductor industry face higher hurdles, said German Economy Ministry Robert Habeck on Tuesday, adding that this also applies to a planned takeover of Elmos' (ELGG.DE) chip factory. Reporting by Markus Wacket, Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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