The German Chancellor will be meeting President Trump on Thursday on his inaugural visit to the US. Meanwhile, a massive evacuation effort is taking place in Cologne as three WWII bombs are being defused. DW has more.
Following one-to-one talks, a press conference will be held in the Oval Office (FILE: May 22, 2025)Image: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance
Chancellor Friedrich Merz due to meet US President Donald Trump on inaugural visit
Merz and Trump are expected to talk about Ukraine war peace negotiations and tariffs, among other issues
The German Chancellor will be meeting President Trump on Thursday on his inaugural visit to the US. Meanwhile, a massive evacuation effort is taking place in Cologne as three WWII bombs are being defused. DW has more.
German mechanical engineering firms reported a drop in orders in April. This decrease came amid concerns over US tariff policies.
According to trade group Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA), orders declined by 6% year-on-year in April, though they were 1% higher in the first four months of 2025 than in the same period the previous year.
Domestic orders in April were 4% below last year’s level, while foreign orders dropped 7%, exacerbated by a 13% decline in non-euro countries, the trade group said in a statement.
“In view of the many tariff threats and announcements by US President Donald Trump and the great uncertainty this has caused, this was an expected setback,” said VDMA chief economist Johannes Gernandt.
“Global uncertainty remains high. This makes it all the more important that we set the right course ourselves in Germany and Europe,” he added.
