Overview
- Germany’s Katherina Reiche and Canada’s Mélanie Joly signed a memorandum of intent in Berlin to deepen cooperation in automotive and mobility.
- The agreement establishes a Joint Cooperation Group for Automotive and Mobility to strengthen industrial capacity, stabilize supply chains, and accelerate zero‑emission technologies such as batteries and hydrogen.
- Both countries seek to reduce exposure to U.S.-centric supply chains as trade risks rise, with an Ifo Institute analysis cited in coverage estimating German output could fall about 0.13% and exports roughly 1.3% under continued aggressive U.S. tariffs.
- BILD reports, without official confirmation, a broader package under discussion that includes a German‑Norwegian offer of 12 submarines for Canada and a shift toward more Canadian LNG purchases.
- BILD also reports, unconfirmed, a Volkswagen/PowerCo battery plant commitment in St. Thomas, Ontario, and a closed Bundestag economic committee session planned for Wednesday to discuss the deal.