The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has warned of destabilization in Germany if Russian energy imports are stopped.
"It is doubtful that an embargo will have a direct impact on the course of the war and will serve the purpose of ending this war of aggression that violates international law," said DGB board member Stefan Körzell of the "Rheinische Post".
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On the other hand, an import ban would have serious economic and social effects, said the union representative: "There is a risk of irreparable damage to the industrial value chains and a sharp increase in unemployment".
From Körzell's point of view, such a destabilization would be a heavy burden for the economic and social development of Europe far beyond Germany and would unnecessarily narrow the scope for humanitarian and peacekeeping measures.
The foreign trade association BGA also assumes that there will be considerable upheaval if Russian gas supplies are stopped immediately.
Large parts of the industry are dependent on gas, especially the chemical and food industries.
"A delivery stop overnight cannot be compensated for in the short term and would also have a significant impact on all households in Germany," said BGA President Dirk Jandura.
The federal government rejects an embargo.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had made it clear several times that from the government's point of view, entire branches of industry in Germany would be threatened in such a case.
Economists had also recently pointed out that stopping Russian energy supplies would cause German economic output to collapse by up to three percent in the medium term.
But an embargo or delivery stop would also have consequences for Russia.