The United States, where eggs have become scarce and costly due to avian influenza, is now asking European countries - including Germany - to aid with increased exports - wrote the weekly portal "Der Spiegel".
"We have indeed received an enquiry from the US" - confirmed the spokesperson quoted by the weekly German national Professional Chicken Breeding Association (Bundesverband Ei) Hans-Peter Goldnick, without giving details.
Price crisis
Importing eggs from Europe is intended to alleviate the price crisis in the USA, where they have become a deficit and more costly commodity due to avian influenza. Already last week, the media reported that the US authorities have asked another European countries to increase the export of chicken eggs. Conclusions in this case were received by manufacture associations in Sweden and Denmark, among others, despite the fact that the relations of the second country with the US are presently strained due to statements made by president Donald Trump about taking control of Greenland - he recalled "Der Spiegel".
According to Goldnick, Germany is already exporting eggs to the US, but in very tiny quantities, due to the fact that they do not have besides many eggs - in 2023 only 73 percent of eggs consumed in Germany were produced in the country and the remainder came from imports.
The US is Germany's most crucial trading partner. In 2023, German companies exported goods and services worth EUR 160 billion to the US, while Germany purchased goods and services worth EUR 95 billion in the US. Trump wants to solve his country's trade balance with customs.
Customs War
At present, the president of the United States is considering imposing duties of 200 percent on wine and champagne from the European Union. This would be Trump's consequence to the fresh customs that the EU has announced for American whiskey, among others. This in turn was a reaction to US duties on imports of steel and aluminium from Europe. "The wine and spirits dispute is simply a good example of how trade conflicts can escalate" - writes "Der Spiegel" on Tuesday.
Last year Germany sold 63 million euros of wine to the United States. The introduction of a 200 percent work would likely lead to a collapse in wine exports to the US. "This would truly be a disaster," says head of the German Wine Institute Monika Reule, quoted by "Spiegel". 1 can only hope Trump will yet step down, "but it's only hope" - she added.
PAP
