© Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters
"Germany accounts for nearly 40 percent of export trade losses compared to the Western countries, with other major geopolitical players far less affected," the study states.
The authors say that exports from the United Kingdom to Russia dropped 7.9 percent, while French exports declined by 4.1 percent. Trade between the US and Russia decreased by just 0.6 percent.
According to the institute's estimates, German exports are currently €618 million lower than they could be if the sanctions were not imposed. The analysts highlight that overall export losses due to the mutual trade restrictions have totaled €37.5 billion since the penalties were introduced. EU losses reportedly comprise 90 percent of that figure.
Comment: The Germans are experiencing the American way of doing imperial business - the ends justify the means and if you are a vassal state you just have to grin and bear it when their geopolitical strategies hurt you. At some point one would think they would tire of being under the imperial thumb and look to the East for an alliance that is actually beneficial to the country.