Washington is drawing criticism on a variety of fronts for its tariffs and trade policies. The Federation of German Industries says that the US's trade policies would weaken the international trade system and lead to the return of "bully" trade policies.

The president of the German federation -- Dieter Kempf -- said Monday that America's threat to impose protective tariffs would also bring unforeseeable consequences to the global trading system. In addition, Kempf said that American attempts to reform the World Trade Organization would destroy international trade law. Kempf said that Washington's effort to prevent the WTO appellate body from appointing new members would threaten the organization's dispute settlement mechanism.

The appellate body is the WTO's highest mechanism for dealing with trade disputes. The seven-member panel is currently short three members. Roberto Azevedo, the director general of the WTO, said that the shortage would seriously affect his organization's role in dealing with trade disputes.