No effect on European business

We at Weber are only marginally affected by the counter-reaction due to our global production structure and in the short term we won't feel any effects on our European business. This is how it looks so far for the medium term too, although we aren't living in times of stable situations. I think every company would be well advised to always keep their options open. However the overall situation between the USA and Europe seems to have eased somewhat.

The topic of how and where to produce for us is, at a time of rapidly growing foreign markets, of course always a part of the agenda. But points such as proximity to the market, freight costs or also new product developments play a stronger role in the deliberations. However at the moment I cannot see any serious changes to our production structure.

We must certainly look at global trends with concern. We economise in structures which have developed and have proven successful, even if there is room for improvement without these turbulences. The stability of these structures is currently challenged. There is certainly nothing to gloss over here. However I am still optimistic that the economic interconnection is now so far advanced that the alleged recognised benefit will quickly become a boomerang elsewhere. My hope is based on this being recognised on time.

It is difficult to answer this with any certainty. It is similar to the Brexit situation. If you are asking me to make a prediction, there will be acceptable solutions, simply by the fact that economic and trade policy is what determines thinking. Economic exchange will be regulated in line with successful business - which is always two sided. I think that consumers will continue to want the products they appreciate and have come to 'love'. And consumers are citizens.

In general, we frequently have opinions which run in this direction…