German chemical giant warns: US tariff policy is undermining industrial chain stability.

German chemical giant BASF Group issued a warning on the 2nd regarding the recent U.S. tariff increases, stating that the intensification of global trade frictions is exacerbating market uncertainty and posing a substantial threat to the world economic recovery. The group indicated that while the current direct impact on business is still "controllable," unilateral measures by the U.S. are destabilizing industrial chains, leading to a decrease in customer confidence and increased order fluctuations. BASF's Chief Financial Officer, Dirk Elverman, pointed out that the volatility of tariff policies, the unpredictability of further U.S. decisions, and potential response measures from other trading partners are impacting global market sentiment. He revealed that the group's first-quarter economic environment was "weaker than expected overall" and external risks facing the company were "far higher than initially assessed." Despite this, BASF is maintaining its annual performance targets and emphasizing the company's extensive localized production layout to provide resilience against tariff impacts.