“The mood has improved considerably”
Foreign trade expert Melanie Vogelbach talks about how the German chambers of commerce abroad support internationally active companies and about the areas where reforms are needed.
Ms Vogelbach, how would you describe the current mood in internationally active German companies?
It has improved considerably. Positive signs can also be observed when it comes to export and trade, with the EU states in particular. The single market remains Germany’s most important market. However, it is too soon to speak of a sustainable recovery, owing to the many uncertainties.
What is the impact of trade conflicts and geopolitical tensions?
Planning international activities has become more complicated for companies. They need to consider a greater number of risks, comply with regulatory requirements and, in some cases, restructure their supply chains or investment decisions.
What is the role of the German chambers of commerce that exist in 93 countries?
Anyone who wants to enter a new market must be familiar with the local conditions. This is where the chambers of commerce abroad come in: they have established networks, are familiar with the economic and political conditions, and can help to assess opportunities and risks. That is especially important for medium-sized companies, as they do not tend to have their own branches everywhere.
Has the work of the chambers changed?
Some new questions have come up: How can companies secure their supply chains? What is the impact of tariffs or sanctions? The chambers of commerce abroad respond to this in tangible ways. The chamber in New York, for example, offers a tariff tracking tool that helps companies to keep an eye on new US tariffs and assess their effects.
The EU has negotiated a number of free trade agreements, such as Mercosur. Do you expect these to give rise to new economic momentum?
The Mercosur agreement has been applied provisionally since May 2026, and companies have started to benefit from tariff advantages. Trade between Germany and the Mercosur states has since increased by 8.4 percent. Even the prospect of the agreement caused a rise in interest in the region: 13 percent of internationally active German companies had already taken steps to expand their business in and with the Mercosur states by the start of 2026. Full ratification is key to ensuring long-term planning security and legal certainty.
How can German companies become even more competitive?
A reduction of red tape is at the top of the companies’ wishlist. They need quicker approval processes, fewer reporting duties and reliable general conditions.
What do foreign companies that are or would like to be active in Germany wish for?
As a business location, Germany is burdened by high energy and labour costs, a high level of bureaucracy and high taxes. So we need better overall conditions to be able to attract more investors from abroad.
