Trump supercharged by Supreme Court ahead of poll as IW predicts doom for German economy if

 

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court of the United State has ruled that states have no power under the constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency.

“We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,” the 9 justices of the Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision ending the obsession by states to ban Donald Trump.

Donald Trump had challenged Colorado’s attempt to kick him out of the 2024 primary ballot. The court considered for the first time the meaning and reach of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office again.

At least 30 states have filed applications seeking to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot. The decision now officially invalidates what may come from other states and in effect strengthening the resolve of Donald Trump to take over the reigns of power from President Joe Biden.

The ruling came just as a poll by Cologne Institute of Economic Reserach(IW) predicted that the second Donald Trump presidency could cause billions in economic damage to Germany.

If re-elected, Trump has suggested he will impose tariffs of 60% or more on Chinese products and blanket tariffs of 10% on all goods imported into the US.

Over the course of a four-year term in office, this could mean a total loss of more than €120 billion ($130.3 billion) for the German economy, according to the authors of the study, which was published on Monday.

If China retaliates with its own tariff increases on US imports, this figure would rise further, the IW researchers say. Such a conflict would dampen global trade, while exports and private investment would fall in Germany. This would harm Germany and the European Union more than the United States.

In the more conservative scenario – in which China does not retaliate – Germany’s gross domestic product would be 1.2% lower in 2028 compared to a development without these extra tariffs.

As a consequence, the IW experts recommend using the time before a possible second Trump presidency for further agreements with the United States on steel and critical raw materials, and say the threat of countermeasures could help as a deterrent.

The EU also needs further free trade agreements, for example with Australia, the South American Mercosur states, Indonesia and India, the experts say.