Germany balance of trade, from Tweet below

Good Morning from #Germany, which is falling as an economic powerhouse on a global scale. Germany’s trade surplus is gone. Foreign trade balance came in at MINUS €1bn in May, which is the 1st negative print since 1991 due to its energy problems & weakness in manufacturing. pic.twitter.com/HnRBwNaQon

— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) July 4, 2022

Suicide Watch for Deutsche Bank

BBG: German bankers fear a surge in defaults if Russia cuts off the gas supply

Deutsche bank on suicide watch again

— 🅰🅻🅴🆂🆂🅸🅾 (@AlessioUrban) July 4, 2022

Germany's Model is Ugly

Germany's growth model has been to import cheap energy from Russia, use that to assemble manufactured goods and export those goods to the rest of the world. While Germany now seeks new energy suppliers, its trade balance and that of the Euro zone will look ugly. That's all... pic.twitter.com/DiEsyuXZkA

— Robin Brooks (@RobinBrooksIIF) July 4, 2022

Germany's Stock Market Cap

The fall of Germany in one chart: German total mkt cap as % of global mkt cap has hit another All-Time low at 1.97%. Only 1 German comp, Linde, is among global Top100 when measured by mkt cap. 2nd largest comp SAP #110, 3rd largest Deutsche Telekom #123, 4th largest Siemens #127. pic.twitter.com/FXMDZPxtok

— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) July 4, 2022

Nitrogen Restrictions

👀 Dutch farmers close the border between Holland and Germany with tons of manure to protest nitrogen cuts. pic.twitter.com/mYf6E5RydZ

— MI NEWS (@SNMilitary) July 4, 2022

Battle of the Bulge

😂 https://t.co/D7ZSyDGku3

— Ginny Webster ☕🍷 (@GinnyWebster) July 4, 2022

Mandatory Measures to Drastically Reduce Nitrogen Emissions

Please note Dutch Farmers Angry Over Mandatory Measures to Drastically Reduce Nitrogen Emissions

Farmers in the Netherlands have been angered by the government's plans for tougher measures that would drastically reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.

The Dutch government unveiled its goals on Friday, mandating reductions of up to 70% in many places and as high as 95% in others in a bid to protect nature -- or what the cabinet called an "unavoidable transition". 

“We have to emit so much less nitrogen, and unfortunately the agricultural sector emits a lot," explained Christianne van der Wal, Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Policy.

The small, densely populated country of 17.5 million has a large animal population -- nearly four million cattle, 12 million pigs and 100 million chickens.

Population Picture

The Message

Tiny Netherlands is the second-largest agricultural exporter in the world after the US.

But more cows, pigs, and chickens are unacceptable even as the cost of food is soaring globally. 

How Long Before Putin Shuts Off Natural Gas Delivery to Europe?

The big question of the day remains: How Long Before Putin Shuts Off Natural Gas Delivery to Europe?

Here are the two key questions of the day Europe needs to address: How long and what's the economic impact?

Some readers commented Putin would not cutoff the gas as it is a source of revenue.

 Don't be so sure of that. A cutoff does not have to be permanent. It could be for a week. Also drastically reduced supply could have the desired impact that Putin wants. 

A Laughable Explanation of the G7 Oil Price Buyers' Cartel Emerges

It's important to note that a huge decrease in supply as opposed to a total cutoff would cripple the EU while keeping money flowing to Russia. That's more likely than a total shutoff.

These outcomes are all in the hands of Putin. The EU has no control of supply, it is a buyer not a seller of energy.

Yet, the EU thinks of creating a "buyer's cartel".

For discussion, please see A Laughable Explanation of the G7 Oil Price Buyers' Cartel Emerges

Meanwhile, please note the battle between the Greens and the realists is coming to a head. 

Second, please note the export chickens are coming home to roost. Germany, Japan, and China are all struggling with exports. 

More By This Author: