The government’s draft of the 12th amendment to the GWB has been available since July 15, 2026. The amendment modernizes procedures and sends some signals of relief. In the area of merger control, however, it falls short of the BDI’s expectations: The increase in the thresholds for initiating proceedings is too modest, while the expansion of the transaction value threshold creates new uncertainties.
-
12. Amendment to the German Act Against Restraints of Competition (GWB): Between Regulatory Relief and Increasing Intervention -
Toward a “mini-polar” future: where do Africa and Europe stand? In 2050, the world will be warmer, older, more African, less European–and yet not fully multipolar.
-
BDI zu Kabinettsklausur: Muss Auftakt für einen Herbst des Handelns sein Tanja Gönner, BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin, anlässlich der Kabinettsklausur: „Kabinettsklausur muss Auftakt für einen Herbst des Handelns sein."
-
Anreize statt Belastung: Wie ein modernes Steuersystem Wachstum schafft Deutschland braucht einen Investitionsschub in moderne Anlagen, Forschung und Digitalisierung. Das aktuelle Steuersystem wirkt jedoch eher als Bremse denn als Motor. Im globalen Wettbewerb schrecken hohe Belastungen und bürokratische Hürden Investoren ab. Damit der Standort Deutschland wieder attraktiver wird, muss die Steuerpolitik zum Taktgeber einer echten Wachstumsagenda werden.
-
Aligning Interests in Times of Geopolitical Turmoil Critical raw materials are shaping the global geoeconomic landscape. For European industry, access to these materials is essential to maintain competitiveness. For resource-rich African nations, they offer potential for their own industrialization. This will bring Europe and Africa closer together.
-
Globaler Wachstumsausblick: Wachstumsaussichten leicht verbessert - für kräftige Konjunkturerholung muss Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gestärkt werden Zum Globalen Wachstumsausblick erklärt BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin Tanja Gönner: "Die Wachstumsaussichten für Deutschland hellen sich leicht auf. Nach vier Jahren weitgehender Stagnation sind für langfristig kräftiges Wachstum mehr Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, mehr Investitionen und entschlossenen Strukturreformen entscheidend."
-
EEG-Novelle und Netzpaket: Wichtige Impulse für ein effizienteres Energiesystem Zu den Beschlüssen der Bundesregierung zur EEG-Novelle und zum Netzpaket äußert sich Holger Lösch, stellvertretender Hauptgeschäftsführer des BDI: "Mit der EEG-Novelle und dem Netzpaket setzt die Bundesregierung wichtige und lange überfällige Impulse für ein effizientes und wettbewerbsfähiges Energiesystem."
-
Can the overhaul of the EU emissions trading system satisfy everyone? The European Commission plans to present a major proposal to overhaul the emissions trading system in July. In doing so, it must place much greater emphasis than before on maintaining the competitiveness of businesses. Only competitive companies can successfully transform themselves while simultaneously creating new solutions and essential value.
-
GWB-Novelle: Noch kein überzeugendes Signal für mehr Entlastung und Dynamik Zur 12. GWB-Novelle sagt Holger Lösch, stellvertretender Hauptgeschäftsführer des BDI: „Die GWB-Novelle ist noch kein überzeugendes Signal für mehr Entlastung und Dynamik.”
Our social wall
-
USA
The United States remains one of the most important foreign markets for the German economy. However, the policies of U.S. President Trump are posing challenges for German companies.
-
International supply chains
The world has never been as interconnected as it is today—socially, politically, and economically. Global economic cycles ensure a wider range of goods and lower prices, but they also place high demands on logistics and efficient supply chains. Whether it’s trade conflicts, pandemics, shortages of raw materials, or the sinking of a container ship: companies must learn to manage these risks.
-
Security and Defense
Security is fundamental to the political and social stability of any society. It provides the framework within which culture, trade, and the economy can develop in the first place. For example, people only invest if they are confident that they will be able to reap the rewards of that investment.
-
Reducing bureaucracy
German industry—from publicly traded corporations to medium-sized family businesses—relies on an efficient and straightforward legal framework. Unnecessary bureaucracy costs time and money, hinders innovation, and exacerbates the country’s competitive disadvantage. Industrial SMEs in particular suffer from the multitude of government regulations, as they often lack the resources to cope with complex requirements.
-
Current Tax Policy
A modern tax policy is essential for boosting investment, ensuring competitiveness, and positioning Germany as a sustainable business location for the future. We need simple, reliable, and internationally competitive rules so that investment decisions once again favor Germany. In this way, a smart tax policy provides the necessary momentum for industry.
-
Cybersecurity and Economic Security
Data and cargo theft, cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage, and other forms of economic crime—which cause over 267 billion euros in damages annually—as well as natural disasters and political instability: For Germany’s globally interconnected industry, all aspects of security are critical—both physical and digital. Business and politics must work more closely together to address this challenge.
-
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing our lives. Its transformative effects in the future will have a lasting impact on the way we live and work. But what exactly is AI? How is AI used in industry? What are the barriers to AI adoption, and how is the BDI, in its role as the leading industry association, advocating for the implementation and innovation-friendly regulation of artificial intelligence?
-
Latin America
Latin America is considered a growth region with great potential—even now, amid slow growth and difficult times. The region has significant needs in areas where German companies have much to offer. Nevertheless, Germany’s economic engagement in the region remains far below its potential. Improved framework conditions and new trade agreements could provide important impetus for expanding economic relations.
-
Resource security
Raw materials are the foundation of industrial production in Germany. They are used throughout the entire value chain and have become an integral part of our daily lives: for example, a smartphone contains over 60 different raw materials. A secure supply of raw materials is of the utmost importance for Germany as an industrial hub.
