For a long time, Germany was seen as a blocker on EU trade issues. In times of need, the government tries to turn things around – and even the Greens join in. Why?
The German Chancellor had prepared a short story. It is about two Hamburg friends who traveled to Singapore in 1840. With only three ships, they began trading in spices, silk, cotton and tea. The two became rich, their company still exists today and employs around 1000 people.
“Free and fair trade benefits all parties involved,” concluded Olaf Scholz (SPD), the story he told on Monday during a visit to Singapore. “It is still the basis of our prosperity.”
These are unusual words for a German Social Democrat whose party has successfully fought free trade negotiations such as the EU-US TTIP agreement in recent years. But times have changed: Berlin is putting pressure on.