FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Concerns about Chinese consumers' propensity to buy and the threat of international tariffs weighed heavily on carmakers' shares on Tuesday. In the USA, investors fear additional tariffs if Donald Trump is elected for a second term as US President. The outlook for the particularly important sales market in China also continues to deteriorate. Europeans are struggling there with increasing competition from local manufacturers.

The renewed concerns were particularly evident on Tuesday at sports car manufacturer Porsche AG, whose share price slipped 5.7 percent at times. However, the shares of Mercedes, Volkswagen and BMW also suffered above-average falls. The overall European sector index Stoxx Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts lost one percent, making it one of the biggest losers in the sector ranking.

Overall, the European stock market is suffering from political uncertainty these days. The so-called Trump trade is being mentioned by investors in New York, according to which the fact that Donald Trump's chances of being re-elected are considered to have increased following the assassination attempt at the weekend. According to market observer Thomas Altmann from QC Partners, higher tariffs in this country could have a massive negative impact on the exchange of goods with the USA.

Customs concerns are thus spreading further, as the European Union is already in dispute with China over the introduction of temporary punitive tariffs on e-cars from China. Economic concerns are also continuing to cloud the picture in the growth market there, which is having a particularly negative impact on luxury goods stocks these days.

China is also one of Porsche's most important markets and, unlike other German manufacturers, the Zuffenhausen-based company supplies the country entirely with production from Europe.

"The already troubled car companies will have an even harder time in the future," said market observer Andreas Lipkow in view of the more difficult trade relations with the USA. He pointed out that North America is the second most important sales market for European car manufacturers after China.

At the weekend, an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, who is running for a second term as US president, failed. "The election campaign in the US is likely to enter the hot phase with the assassination attempt and it can be assumed that Trump will know how to use the incident to his advantage and make political capital out of it," wrote Landesbank Helaba the day before. Investors are therefore currently focusing on US equities.

The US Republicans have now officially nominated Trump for the presidential election. He wants to enter the race with his ally J.D. Vance as his running mate./tih/ag/mis