German exporters complain about growing trade barriers: survey

BERLIN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- German exporting firms are confronted by growing trade barriers, a survey by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) showed on Friday.

According to survey called "Going International", 40 percent of 2,100 polled firms recognized additional barriers in the international trade during the past 12 months.

"This is a clear warning signal", a statement by DIHK President Eric Schweitzer read.

"Numerous additional certifications and security requirements have already been added in recent years. Now there is also a turn to tariffs", Schweitzer added. He predicted that uncertainty for businesses was bound to increase as a consequence and could in turn undermine global growth.

It was highly unlikely that German firms would fare as well in international markets in 2018 compared to the previous year. A growing risk of trade conflicts and an appreciation in the value of the euro meant that exports would not develop as well as they otherwise could be in circumstances of strong global economic momentum.

"We will have to try hard to meet the forecast for annual export growth of more than 6 percent", DIHK international trade expert Volker Treier said.

For example, German firms were at risk of losing access to their single biggest export market aside from the European Union (EU) if the ongoing tariff conflict with the U.S. escalated further. "Companies are seeing risks, especially with regards to the economic- and trade policy of individual countries", Schweitzer emphasized.

He highlighted that rising trade conflicts would squander commercial opportunities from generally favourable market conditions created by the positive world economic growth.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva lifted its 2018 forecast for global gross domestic product (GDP) from 3.2 percent to 4.4 percent. Enditem