US loves prosecuting foreign companies. Not so much local companies. So sure they could go after Volkswagen, what do they have to lose?
From http://www.dailydot.com/politics/tpp-leaked-investment-chapt...
> Corporations may be granted through “Investor-State Dispute Settlement” (ISDS) tribunals the authority to demand taxpayer compensation for domestic energy, health, environment, land use, and other policies. With the exception of Australia, all of the countries involved in the TPP talks have agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of ISDS tribunals.
*edited to format the quote. Giving up.
And it turns out, amazingly often, that the EU discovers that what's in Germany's interest is in its interest too!
We could end up with the EU crying foul and threatening retaliation against American companies here.