„I hoped that after two years of Corona we would now find calmer waters,“ admits Ulrich Ackermann. It turned out differently. His foreign trade department at the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) is particularly busy at the moment. Currently, the main issues are the sanctions against Russia and their implications, including for trade with China. Ackermann and his team are available to the more than 3,400 member companies whenever they have questions about customs duties, export regulations or the general conditions on foreign markets.