Results of the reader survey on the Trump administration

The survey shows a predominantly critical assessment of the impact of Trump's presidency on trade relations, both within Europe and with the US. The majority of respondents, namely 47.5%, expect that the political disunity associated with his presidency will make internal European trade more difficult. Only 24.6% see this development as a possible strengthening of trade, while 27.9% assume that trade relations will remain largely unaffected. These results suggest that most companies expect a more unstable political situation to make trade between European countries more difficult, with only a quarter seeing benefits.

Companies are also cautious when it comes to tapping into new markets. The vast majority (61%) continue to focus on strengthening their existing markets rather than tapping into new ones. Only 15.3% are planning to expand in Asia, 13.6% are looking at expanding their presence in Europe and 10.2% are looking to invest in Latin America. These responses reflect a strategic restraint that is characterized by uncertainty about political and economic developments.

The survey on the assessment of transatlantic trade relations shows that a clear majority (62.9% of respondents) fear that Trump's policies could lead to tensions and uncertainty. Only 19.4% believe that new trade agreements could lead to a strengthening of relations, while 17.7% are unsure how the situation will develop. This suggests that the majority of companies consider transatlantic relations to be at risk.

With regard to future cooperation between the EU and the US, 48.4% are concerned that political tensions and disagreements could make cooperation more difficult. Almost as many, namely 40.3%, are uncertain and are waiting to see how the situation will develop, while only 11.3% assume that cooperation will deepen. Skepticism therefore dominates - almost 90% see uncertainty or deterioration.

Finally, the question on adapting the business strategy shows that the majority of companies (65%) see no immediate need to change their strategy due to the political changes. Nevertheless, 35% are planning an adjustment in order to be able to react more flexibly to political developments.

In summary, the survey reflects a predominantly negative perception of the impact of Trump's presidency on trade relations and business strategies. Companies expect uncertainties and tensions, especially in transatlantic trade, and prefer to strengthen their existing markets rather than focus on new geographic regions.