♪ >> this is "dw news" live from berlin. steel producers a sharpened their rhetoric in the light of trumps trade war. retaliatory measures against his proposed a new steel and aluminum tax. they say it is bad for the world economy and the united states, where stocks are sinking. also on the program, a deadly virus in -- they have attacked him enough also using -- leaving soldiers and civilians that. the head of italy's

parliamentary elections, we had to sicily, on the front line of the country's immigration debate. it could tip the election toward silvio berlusconi's coalition. ♪ >> welcome to the program. the world's major steel producers are heading to a trade war as president donald trump announces punitive tariffs on a exports to the u.s., many have threatens economic reprisals, which many warm -- warn would be disastrous. but that has not stopped him from ramping up his rhetoric. reporter: it is donald against the world. at a meeting with u.s. steel

companies in the white house, the president stood by his threat. he will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, propping up his own industry. pres. trump: they have been very unfairly treated by bad policy, bad trade deals, by other countries. they have been horribly treated by other countries. reporter: this is yet another war trump is confident of winning. he defended the tariffs, citing national security. european union leaders were bemused and angry at the move. >> you cannot treat the e.u. as a stretch to your national security, we're allies, we cooperate in nato. the problem with steel is with overproduction and other countries, not the e.u. reporter: they are worried cheap chinese steel will no longer be sold to the u.s. but could flood the european market. that is why brussels is thinking about countermeasures.

they are expected to hit america where it hurts. for example, tariffs on harley davidson motorcycles. american jeans, or whiskey from tennessee and kentucky. all three states are home to influential politicians and trump supporters. >> we hope those in the u.s. are still trying to ensure europe is not regarded as a trade policy enemy will prevail. otherwise, this is a real word and on our relationship. reporter: in addition to retaliatory measures, the e.u. announced it will sue the u.s. through the world trade organization. phil: the president knows where the european union stands on this. our guests can tell us more about world reaction. >> we are seeing all kinds of reactions. we know this can escalate pretty quickly, that is the big danger.

the european union with its 28 numbers, is the u.s.'s biggest trading member. jean-claude juncker announcing this friday the e.u. will not sit idly by. let's listen to what he said. >> jobs in europe will be lost due to the american measures. you cannot simply look on without doing anything. we need to take measures from our side. this is highly regrettable. we never set out to start trade wars. >> it is a big topic. to help us understand, our guest, thank you for joining us and trying to explain the effects of all this. we know the tariffs are new, we do not know much about them yet. what is your first impression? >> first of all, i think this is an escalation of the creeping protectionism. this is not one little target against a specific country.

this is a broad issue. hence, this is pretty negative. however, even if these tariffs are slapped on all u.s. imports of the steel and aluminum, it would not need -- it would not be a big impact. we would barely notice it in our economic statistics for the u.s. or europe. but the constant effect of this could be more severe. this my -- this might dent confidence, especially in germany and other european countries. phil: because we don't know what risks they might face in the future? >> and secondly because there could be a tit-for-tat sequence of events. and uncertainty is bad for business. this introduces a different type of uncertainty from what we had before. phil: speaking of that tit-for-tat, europe has said, or at least jean-claude juncker

hasn't said, europe must respond to this. but they are clearly against this. what position does europe see themselves in? must they introduce tariffs? we have heard harley davidson or whiskey. >> economically it doesn't -- it makes sense not to retaliate because it will make exports more expensive for our own consumers. this is also a political game. in political terms, probably europe does not want to show itself a victim that cannot retaliate. the best political response would be to retaliate. but to have a retaliation which is less severe than what the u.s. has done, so to not escalated but try to de-escalate it. phil: so we are seeing the political and economic aspect. we know donald trump is keeping a promise.

but he said the effect would not be that big anyway. do you think this is a merely political issue for him? >> it is mostly political, of course. he is trying to impress his own base and he is doing it at a time when the u.s. and global economy is pretty strong. initially, the direct economic damage will be limited areas having said that, this sets a bad precedent. it is bad for confidence and it would be good if all sides tried to de-escalate, instead of trying to escalated further. phil: thank you so much for the analysis. the announcement of these tariffs was a turning point in what is now being considered another difficult week for markets worldwide and also for the german stock index, the dax, which fell 5% in as many days. headwinds facing equity investors, assuming we won't see

even more surprises. >> the first half of the week was ordinary enough for germany's top stocks. but thursday came the first hit. worries of rising u.s. interest rates after the federal reserve chair jerome powell's adjusted hikes could come faster than anticipated. the higher rates would make a debt more expensive to businesses, and that could leave consumers less money for spending. that would hit corporate profits. the news on thursday pushed the dax down by more than 300 points. the final blow came at the end of the week. on friday, trumps trade tariffs pushed it under the 12,000 mark for the first time in 12 months. the proposed measures would be a bitter blow for european steelmakers. yet investors across sectors worry the risk to germany's top firms of a trade war is increasing. the dax list of corporations

highly exposed, a trade war and be the nightmare scenario for those betting their money on some of europe's biggest companies. phil: a day of chaos in burkina faso. >> yes, the government in that western african country said it repelled a deadly attack by islamist militants in the capital, ouagadougou. many were killed when gunmen order needed attacks that included a car bombing. they targeted burkina faso' army headquarters as well as the french embassy. security forces rushed to the french embassy to deal with an attempted -- an apparent jihadist attack. gunfire was exchanged for around two hours. a government official reported casualties on both sides. witnesses said five attackers got out of this car before setting it on fire and then they started shooting.

french special forces were thrown into the area. france is fighting jihadists with a four hundred strong force. the attacks appeared to have been coordinated the same time as the embassy shooting. an explosion occurred at the army headquarters a kilometer across town. >> there was a car with around 46 people -- four to six people. there was an explosion. we saw a lot of shots fired, there was smoke, and then people started running. reporter: streets quickly emptied as lane close -- plain clothes officials were there. this is the first major attack in ouagadougou in years. phil: our correspondent has been monitoring this. >> burkina faso has been noted

as a peaceful country until 2014. the long-term ruler, who has already been in office 30 years, tried to change the constitution to stay in office even longer. angry protesters went on the streets, and with the help of the military, was chased out of the country. political instability reached a peak, when there was a failed coup d'etat. terrorists are trying to take advantage of this political instability. phil: you are watching "dw news" live from berlin. a western leader's -- leader is hoping to stop the bloodshed in ghouta. other stories making news, the british prime minister has confirmed her countries plans to leave the european union single market when it leaves the bloc

in march last year. a long-awaited speech, which also rolled out using the current trade deals as models for future trade ties. police in the u.s. state of michigan searching for someone accused of killing two people on a university campus. the 19-year-old opened fire at the university in michigan in mount pleasant. they described it as a domestic issue. this comes two weeks after a mass shooting at a florida school left 17 people that. turkey has detained two greek soldiers after they entered the country at the border region. greece says of the soldiers were on routine patrol, when they lost their way in heavy snow. those in custody are accused of potential espionage. western leaders increasing the pressure on the syrian

government and its ally russia to curb bloodshed in eastern ghouta. a rebel-held enclave knew the syrian capital has been under fierce bombardment for more than a week with a little relief from the u.n.-mandated cease-fire. they say it is not being honored and civilians do not trust the vehicles sent into ferry them out. >> the syrian red crescent and military looking for the besieged masses. not a single soul comes. >> we have been waiting for days for civilians. we are ready to deliver all the necessary aid to the wounded and everyone trying to get out of eastern ghouta. this crossing is the only safe one. our vehicles are equipped with the necessary medical equipment. our clinics are open around the clock. reporter: the daily five-hour truce after the 30 day cease-fire brokered by the u.n.

last week is not being honored. the rebel-held enclave of the eastern border has a cnet its heaviest bombardments since the war began, and it is -- border has seen its heaviest bombardments since the war began, and it is not letting up. >> we are sitting in the basement. what kind of cease-fire is this, what kind of regime is this? reporter: as the death toll mounts, so does international outrage. >> there are no longer words adequate to describe the brutality of the regime's attacks on its on population. the horror has surpassed the ability of the english-language to describe it. many of these attacks defy armed -- the roles of armed conflict. >> syria must be rolled to the international court.

attempts to for justice and shield criminals are disgraceful. reporter: back in eastern ghouta , the humanitarian corridor remains untraveled. as civilians fear they could be caught in the crossfire. phil: dw has been speaking to the head of the u.n. humanitarian task force for syria. he gave us his assessment of the situation there. >> the situation is horrific on the ground. there is no other word for it. this is a besieged area, militarily encircled. there has not been any possibility to get humanitarian relief for months. only one tiny convoy came in in february. that is the only thing we have gotten in since november, roughly. malnutrition has gone through the roof at the time when

hospitals are being bombed, civilian housing is being bombed, and it is happening next door to the damascus city. these are suburbs to damascus. there are also in all fairness, rockets out of this eastern ghouta neighborhood, that are hitting damascus city. it is a terrible situation. phil: reporters without borders have urged the slovakian prime minister to apologize for his history of insulting journalists. the organization said he created an appalling climate for the media. criticism follows the murder of a slovakian reporter who investigated organized crime and corrupt officials. it mean -- it has left many slovaks disillusioned. reporter: oblique after the

murder of the reporter and his fiancee, reports continue. people are demanding information and are deeply dissatisfied with politics. >> we thought this only occurred in the 1990's, but we see the way things are going. reporter: several arrests have been made, among them, italian businessmen mentioned in the last article that jan kuciak wrote. slow back politics -- slovak politics bear some responsibility. police should be investigating. the decision not to do so comes from the highest level. the e.u. commission believes e.u. payments to the agricultural center may have been misused for criminal purposes.

>> i think we are witnessing the beginning of the end of this government. reporter: the slovak government are under pressure, been accused of doing too little to fight corruption and shady business deals. phil: today is the final day of campaigning before italy goes to the polls in the fiercely contested election. though barred from government, silvio berlusconi is hoping to play kingmaker in the center-right coalition. max hoffman has been to sicily where berlusconi's message is leading the debate. reporter: he knows this neighborhood like no one else. he has taken me to the market, an institution in old town palermo. img to get a feel for what matters to people in this

election. -- i am trying to get a feel for what matters to people in this election. immigration seems to be top of the list. >> the tone of the current campaign is very harsh. i am afraid of the topic of migration is being exploited from the left and from the right. these people don't understand the value of migrants and migration can bring to a country. reporter: sicily has always been an island between two continents. many africans that make it to europe spend a lot of time here. some learn italian in charity-sponsored classes like this one next to the market, hoping to be granted asylum. others move on. there are approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants in italy. one man italians are very familiar with this calling the

situation a social timebomb. that man is silvio berlusconi, former prime minister and billionaire. 81 years old, and the centerpiece of many scandals involving among other things, and underaged call girl, and tax fraud. yet there is a good possibility he will be forging the next governing coalition, once again. it would be one leaning strongly to the right, capitalizing on the current anti-immigration mood in italy. in spite of his checkered past, fellow party members think he is italy's best hope for reforms. >> berlusconi has extensively proven his dedication in the past, he is a good businessman who has achieved a lot for himself and his partners. is a strength of purpose and his passion are why we sicilians and i hope italians as a whole, are

turning back to him. he is a credible man. reporter: and he has a special ties to palermo. it is here he made his foundation for a comeback in regional elections last year. at the market i meet lots of fans. >> when berlusconi was in power, there were more jobs. to me he is the perfect person, and he wants an alliance with of the far right. i think berlusconi is the only one who can save us. it is like the old italian political scene, if you stick around long enough, you can become a saint. but this father deals in real saints and has a different view of berlusconi, primarily because of his attitude toward migrants.

>> his allies are very tough. once you get rid of all migrants, this is a demand that is completely outside of reality. reporter: but my impression is, reality has never seemed to be a big concern of berlusconi's, especially in campaigns, and especially regarding migration. phil: here in germany, the long wait for a new government could finally be reaching an end on sunday. the social democrats will announce the results of an early -- internal party vote whether to join angela merkel's constituents in a grand coalition. main parties were scrambling to form a government. reporter: at the social democrats headquarters, there is only one topic on everyone's minds, the spd members vote.

the future of germany's next government now lies with the spd. saturday evening a truck will arrive caring what will be a germany's most important mail delivery. answers to the question, should the social democrats join merkel's conservatives? they'll be counted overnight, with the result far from clear. germans have been patient for weeks. exploratory talks, coalition negotiations, party congresses. for some, suspense is reaching its climax. for others, they have had enough and just wanted to be over. >> i hope the spd votes yes. we will have to wait and see. >> i wish they would have hurried up and finished it sooner. but it is like it is. >> i don't care, they have to figure it out amongst themselves. i assume they will vote yes. >> i will find it exciting to

see what happens if they do not agree. i would not worry too much about the impact. reporter: never before has there not been a government in germany so long after the election. but an end is in sight. berlin's politicians and politics watchers are holding their breath. 160 days after the election, they will see of germany is covered for another grand coalition. if the answer is no, it is something that has not happened here before, a minority government, led by angela merkel. phil: it may be the last thing evil in germany want, that europe is also waiting for berlin to get a new government. in particular, emmanuel macron once a partner in place for proposed reforms. >> germany is under mounting pressure without a government. the european union is not moving

forward fast enough for the french president's agenda and europe has to wait with him. >> if you want to forge a compromise of a european level, you need a strong german government in place. there are two real, tough issues which have to be settled. reporter: paris wants a strong zone with its own budget and e.u. finance minister. until now, there has been no concrete response from berlin. >> there is pressure coming also from paris. next year we will have the european parliament elections, brexit will come into the final moment, we will have a new institutional cycle at the european level. reporter: but europe needs -- before then. the division between eastern and western europe could widen even further. >> this is going to be a very difficult issue to tackle. but with pressure from paris and

berlin jointly putting pressure on others who were less ready, more hesitant, a compromise feels possible. reporter: defense is another issue france wants to advance. france is willing to give up some sovereignty. it wants a solid partnership with germany as written prepares to leave the e.u.. macron will have to wait for germany to come through on this. >> there was a period when government was not in place, it did not make berlin a stronger, but weaker. reporter: germany can still make up for lost time. the document mentions the e.u. more than 100 times. europeans are anxious to see those words translated to action. phil: biologists are researching pregnant -- penguin colonies. they discovered 1.5 million adelie penguins on the danger islands. their numbers had been greatly underestimated.

satellite images caught the attention of scientists. in an expedition, they discovered hundreds of thousands of breeding pairs in the area. a reminder, our top story, major steel producers on the verge of a trade war after washington has gone ahead with plans to impose punitive tariffs on imports to the u.s. europe, canada, brazil and japan have threatened reprisals. the stock market sinking for a second day. that is it, you're up-to-date for the top of the hour. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

♪ european lifestyle and culture. here's what's coming up. mocktail mania -- drinks without alcohol are becoming more tasty and trendy. high and mighty -- tourist magnet mont blanc is the highest mountain in the alps. and double whammy -- swiss twins patrik and frank riklin make unusual art projects. plenty people started off their year with dry january, a month-long fast from alcohol. now banishing the booze doesn't just mean alternating between soft drinks and water.