German firms pass on U.S. tariff costs to American consumers, survey shows


BERLIN, May 15 (Xinhua) -- More than two-thirds of German companies operating in the United States have raised prices to offset higher import costs caused by U.S. tariffs, shifting much of the burden onto American consumers, a survey by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) showed Friday.

The survey, which covered more than 4,500 German companies worldwide, found that firms with U.S. operations continued to view trade barriers and policy uncertainty as major business risks.

After last year's tariff shock, sentiment improved slightly, with 43 percent of respondents in the United States describing their current business conditions as good, up from 39 percent in autumn 2025. Even so, the DIHK noted the reading remained below the long-term average for U.S.-based operations.

The economic outlook for the United States remained subdued. Some 30 percent of companies expected local economic conditions to deteriorate over the coming year, while only 24 percent anticipated an improvement.

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