BERLIN \u2014 Revenue from German arms export licenses fell to \u20ac3.97 billion (US $4.49 billion) in 2014, down from \u20ac5.85 billion in 2013 and the lowest level since 2007, the Economics Ministry said. The decline is due to a number of factors, not least the government’s tighter arms exports policy in a bid to reduce Germany’s role in the global weapons trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I think it’s rather pleasing that German arms exports declined notably last year, particularly to the Arabic region,” said German Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel. Germany has been known for being <\/span>the third-largest exporter of weapons in the world behind the US and Russia, a status that Gabriel previously described as “a disgrace.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government’s clampdown on arms exports is putting pressure on the country’s defense companies. The German Defense Industry Association (BDSV) said that industry is in “constant dialogue” with the ministry regarding export control policies, but added that the recently published figures could be subject to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We will wait for the publication of the final version of the arms export report by the federal government before we interpret the figures for 2014,” said Georg Wilhelm Adamowitsch, CEO of the BDSV. “What is already foreseeable is the decline of German exports to EU or NATO member states.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n