Allianz : Survey Reveals Loss of Trust but High Expectations for US-German Partnership

As in 2022, participants in both countries report positive perceptions of each other's business competence and reliability, citing quality of products and services and innovation. Business is the most trusted institution across both countries.

With this trust comes responsibility and high expectations for businesses to partner with governments to bolster transatlantic bonds. A majority of German and American participants would like to see businesses invest in employee skill development (71%), be more transparent (66%) and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (57%). Aligning on common business practices and regulation would strengthen bonds, as 46% of Germans and 36% of Americans find these differences weaken trust.

Germans and Americans expect their governments to lean on business. Leadership of the transatlantic partnership is viewed as a common endeavor between business and government, with 67% of Germans and 64% of Americans agreeing. There is also a common understanding on the purpose of partnership - 51% of German and American participants believe that there should be equal focus on achieving both domestic and global improvements.

In the face of rising uncertainty about the future, people want more transparency and collaboration on defense and economic security (68%), but they realize that governments can't achieve these objectives alone. Today the expectation for the German-American partnership is that government and business work together to better prepare their citizens and stakeholders for the future. Restoring hope that the best days of the German-American relationship are ahead will require going beyond traditional diplomatic channels and the government capitals of Berlin and DC, and into regional towns and cities, to demonstrate public/private collaboration that reinforces social and economic security for all generations.