{
  "id": 1219148,
  "title": "IW-Studie: Deutsche Firmen drosseln USA-Investitionen um zwei Drittel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/iw-studie-deutsche-firmen-drosseln-usa-investitionen-um-zwei-drittel",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-16T06:40:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/konjunktur/iw-studie-deutsche-firmen-drosseln-usa-investitionen-um-zwei-drittel/100247542.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Deutsche Unternehmen are slowing down their investments in the USA, according to a study conducted by the Institute of German Economy (IW). In the first half of the year, their involvement dropped by nearly two-thirds, with only around 4.3 billion euros in direct investments flowing into the world's largest economy, as calculated by IW based on Bundesbank data. This represents a 65% decrease compared to the previous year. \"This follows a negative trend since the start of Donald Trump's second term in January 2025,\" said IW expert Samina Sultan. The decline is even more significant compared to the first half of 2024, when the drop was nearly 80% since Trump's re-entry into the White House. Trump's economic policies have alienated many key trade partners, including the EU and Germany, through high tariffs. Over the long term, the figures are alarming: German firms invested an average of 15.8 billion euros in the first half of the year before the pandemic, nearly four times more than today. While values were lower during the pandemic years of 2020-2023, they were even negative in some cases. Sultan explained that this was due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a special case. Direct investment flows can fluctuate greatly and are sometimes distorted by large single transactions. Also, the most recent figures are often revised. However, opinion polls such as the one by the German Industry and Commerce Chamber (DIHK) indicate a similar trend. Currently, 41% of companies with US locations intend to increase their capital investment there – this figure remains below the long-term average. The researchers also examined the composition of investment flows for the entire year of 2025 and found an alarming pattern: both direct investment credits and reinvested profits fell significantly. The equity capital in a narrower sense – the balance of new investments and liquidations – remained below average. This might be because companies are reticent about strategic reinvestments such as buying firms or building new locations. Sultan concluded that while companies already operating in the USA continue to invest their profits domestically, \"the USA remains an attractive market overall.\"",
  "summary": "Mit hohen Zöllen will US-Präsident Trump die Unternehmen dazu bringen, mehr in den USA zu investieren. Bei deutschen Unternehmen ist er damit bislang nicht erfolgreich.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deutsche firms cut USA investments by two-thirds in first half",
    "Investment fell to 4.3 billion euros, 65% decrease from previous year",
    "Trump's policies blamed for alienating key trade partners"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}