Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has conflicting views on the United States’ decision to initially exempt the European Union from the recently enacted tariffs on steel and aluminium. Though it avoided an open trade conflict, the agreement reached between the United States and the EU was no victory for international free trade, Mr Weidmann explained during a speech in Vienna.

For Bundesbank Executive Board member Joachim Wuermeling, Brexit marks a turning point that will weaken London's role as Europe's financial centre. Speaking at an event in Frankfurt am Main, he explained that the EU could consequently go on to develop its own global, digitally networked financial centre – a digital city of Europe.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has reiterated that, if the economic recovery in the euro area continues, further substantial net asset purchases by the Eurosystem beyond the agreed period will not be required. Furthermore, he does not believe that the recent appreciation of the euro will do anything to change this. Speaking at a conference in Frankfurt am Main, Mr Weidmann stated that this is – at least in part – a reaction to brighter growth prospects.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has warned of the flipside of protectionism. "Trade-restrictive measures often provoke backlashes, and these harbour the risk of erupting into trade wars in which there can only be losers," he said in a speech in Hamburg.

December 2017 saw an array of central banks and financial supervisory authorities launch a new network to address green finance and sustainable investment. The network, which counts the Bundesbank amongst its members, recently held its inaugural meeting in Paris.