BERLIN (Jan 14): Germany's finance minister called on Wednesday for a new era of "European patriotism" to protect regional economic interests, proposing that companies receiving state aid be required to keep jobs in Europe and that public procurement prioritises Europe-made goods. "We need more European patriotism," Klingbeil said. Klingbeil said trade was increasingly "weaponised" through subsidies, overcapacity, tariffs and export controls, putting pressure on Germany's export-oriented economy. Klingbeil outlined a strategy centred on strengthening European unity, diversifying trade partnerships beyond the U.S., and protecting European markets from unfair competition. POINTS TO GERMANY'S MODERNISATION BACKLOGGermany suffers from a significant modernisation backlog that must be urgently addressed to maintain its competitiveness, Klingbeil said.

Source: The Edge Markets January 14, 2026 19:32 UTC