In the early hours of 20 May 2026, representatives of the European Parliament and EU Member States reached agreement in Strasbourg on the implementation of the trade deal with the United States.
The debate about a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages is not new, but it has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks. The Federal Government has now decided that it intends to introduce such a levy from 1 January 2028.
On 1 May 2026, US President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he would be raising import tariffs on cars and lorries from the European Union from 15 to 25 per cent. The measure is set to come into force later this week.
On 13 April 2026, the German government announced its intention to temporarily ease the financial burden on petrol stations by temporarily reducing the energy tax on fuels.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump have now announced an agreement in the months-long customs conflict. A further escalation of the conflict thus appears to have been averted for the time being.
After weeks of blockade by Slovakia, the representatives of the EU member states agreed on a further comprehensive sanctions package against Russia in the night of 18 July.
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