WDK urges future government to engage in ‘dialogue with industry'

FRANKFURT, Germany—The German rubber industry association (WDK) has called on the future government of Germany to have a "constructive exchange" with the industry as political parties engage in coalition negotiations in the wake of the Sept. 26 elections.

"The next four years will be groundbreaking in the decision of companies as to whether there is still an economic future for them in Germany as an industrial location," WDK said in a statement Sept. 27.

Calling for a future dialogue, WDK managing director Boris Engelhardt said the transformation to a sustainable and climate-friendly economy could not be "dictated from above."

Constructive exchange can ensure that Germany remains "internationally competitive as an industrial location and that production is not relocated abroad," he said.

Engelhardt called on the future federal government to provide affordable energy costs and moderate chemicals regulation "in compliance with a reasonable substitution."

He urged the country's future policy-makers to offer state support for mobility transition and the circular economy for used tires, and to introduce a federal commissioner for raw materials.

"A climate-neutral welfare state can only be achieved with a strong economy. Not without it and not with the building of ever tighter ideological guardrails," Engelhardt said.

The WDK represents more than 180 German manufacturers of tires and technical rubber goods. In total, it covers 70,000 employees and an annual turnover of almost $11.6 billion.