i think the dax will look a lot worse before schoeder is gone....i was in having my lexus serviced the other day at plaza motors and i was looking at new cars....the also sell mercedes, bmw, land rover, infiniti....
while i was waiting in the showroom, i was chatting with one of the salesmen told him i was thinking of a new car, but a little bored with lexus..he asked if i was interested in mercedes or bmw...and i told him at one point i was, but now i boycott german products...he told me the lexus division of the dealership had gotten a number of sales from cancelled bmw and mercedes orders. also told me "traffic" was lighter in those showrooms than lexus, infinity and jaguar.
news.bbc.co.uk
Thursday, 13 February, 2003, 14:40 GMT
German business fears for US ties
Schroeder: wants a peaceful solution to the Iraqi conflict
By Mark Gregory
BBC World Service business reporter
German business leaders are worried the diplomatic row between Germany and the United States over Iraq will damage commercial ties between the two countries.
The head of a leading organisation representing German exporters told the BBC's World Business Report that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder should reconsider his opposition to American military action in Iraq.
Other German business groupings have begun a campaign of advertisements, conferences and other initiatives to stress the significance of commercial and political ties.
I don't think anyone can recall a time when the relationship was so difficult
Anton Borner, BGA president
There is no real evidence so far that trade has suffered, but anecdotal reports from German industrialists suggest a growing reluctance by American firms to conclude contracts.
A major worry is that American consumers will start to boycott high profile German brands such as BMW and Mercedes cars, although that hasn't happened yet.
A lot to lose
Germany exports $45bn of goods to the United States each year.
It is the country's second largest trading partner.
A million Americans work for German firms with operations in the US such as SAP, Siemens and Deutsche Telekom.
Not surprisingly then, German business leaders are deeply worried that American anger at their government's opposition to war with Iraq will undermine commercial links.
Anton Burner, president of the BGA - a major association representing German exporters - said businesses must campaign to change the attitude of German politicians.
He said the chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had little understanding of the economic impact of his stance.
"I don't think anyone can recall a time when the relationship has been so difficult," said Mr Borner.
Advertising the issue
Another organisation, mainly financed by German businesses, is to take out full page advertisements in American and German newspapers this weekend.
The advertisements will stress the strength and depth of ties between the two nations over the past half century.
Mr Borner said:"There is no evidence of sale anywhere being hurt or things being damaged but there is a lot of concern.
"There are also fears about informal boycotts taking place in the US." |
