Germany, Canada Push Back on U.S. Policies at Opening of Hannover Fair
Geopolitics took center stage at the opening ceremonies of the Hannover Fair in Germany last night, as German and Canadian government and industry officials criticized U.S. policy on tariffs and trade and declared their support for the independence of Canada.
“Rarely has there been so many political messages at a Hannover Fair,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Trade wars have no real winner, not even the U.S. Europe’s goal is cooperation. But if there is no chance of this, we will act as a unified front.”
Even though Scholz and other speakers did not mention the Trump Administration by name, their messages were clearly targeted at the tariff, trade, and defense polices of the new U.S. administration. Phrases such as “open markets”, “reliable partners”, “respect for neighbors”, and “stable environments” dominated the opening ceremony speeches.
President Donald Trump’s statements about Canada, the partner country for this year’s Hannover Fair, becoming the 51st state of the U.S. received pointed rebukes.
“Canada is not a state of any other nation,” said Scholz. “It will never be part of the U.S.”
It is customary for the Hannover Fair partner country to have its head of state or government participate in the Fair’s opening ceremonies in person. Because Canada is in the midst of a national election, the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, could not attend. Instead, Stephane Dion, Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe, spoke at the ceremonies, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to free trade, its reliability as a partner, and its willingness to strengthen ties with friendly nations.
“Canada is an ally, a friend,” Dion said. “We believe in win/win agreements. We have respect for international law and mutual trust.” With regard to trade relations with Germany, he said: “We knew we liked each other; now, we know we need each other.
But it was also clear from the speeches at the opening ceremonies that the countries and their industrial companies are now operating in a new environment. Siemens AG CEO Roland Busch said the new geopolitical environment is an opportunity Germany must seize.
“The operating system of the world is becoming obsolete,” he said. “It is time for a new one. We must re-invent how we grow together. Germany has been held back by excessive bureaucracy. We need less and more and faster innovation.”
Busch also addressed a major focus of the Hannover Fair this year – artificial intelligence.
He said companies won’t succeed by just adding AI into what they are currently doing. They have to re-think their processes and rebuild. He also warned about the stakes of not moving aggressively to adopt and learn about AI.
“In a few years from now, there will be a divide between those that embrace AI and those that don’t,” Busch said. “This may be the last generation of managing companies with just humans.”
Last night, Siemens won the Fair’s coveted Hermes Award for its Industrial Co-Pilot generative AI tool.
On Monday, the Hannover Fair exhibition opens. There are approximately 4,000 companies showing and demonstrating their technology and industrial products. About 130,000 people are expected to attend.
About the author:
David R. Brousell is the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s Founder, Vice President and Executive Director