Germany has cautioned against punishing major United States tech firms in response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, warning that such a move could harm Europe more than intended. "We simply have to be cautious with digital corporations because we have no real alternatives to the offering by the American digital industry," German Finance Minister Jorg Kukies stated on Friday, according to the Financial Times.
He emphasized the importance of cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities provided by American firms, noting that while some products have easy global substitutes, there are sectors where it is more difficult. His comments come as the European Union weighs countermeasures amid escalating transatlantic trade tensions.
