German Chambers of Commerce Abroad Call on Germany's Economy Minister to Strengthen Dialogue with China
According to German public radio, the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) in China have urged Federal Economy Minister Katrin Lühning (CDU) to strengthen dialogue with the Chinese government. Lühning is expected to arrive in Beijing, China’s capital, on Wednesday and will visit Guangzhou, a major industrial hub in southern China, on Thursday. According to information from Germany’s Ministry of Economics, in addition to long-standing competitive disadvantages faced by German companies, export restrictions imposed by China on raw materials such as rare earths will also be key topics during the talks.
Roennfeld, Executive Director of AHK China, told Deutschlandfunk radio that mutual understanding of each other’s economic systems must be enhanced. He pointed out that China is an increasingly promising market and also becoming a more attractive destination for investment. Therefore, German businesses cannot afford the cost of not operating in China.
According to dpa news agency: Germany’s reliance on China for critical goods is growing steadily. A study shows that Germany’s dependence on China is rising in strategically important sectors such as batteries, solar panels, and antibiotics.
Citing preliminary data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom noted that, by weight, about two-thirds of lithium-ion batteries directly imported by Germany last year came from China—up from less than half just two years ago. The share of solar panels imported from China rose from around 89% to nearly 93%, while antibiotic imports from China increased from approximately 65% to about 73%.
Frederic Spohr, author of the study and head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s Taiwan and Korea office with Free Democratic Party (FDP) affiliations, criticized: "Precisely in crucial areas, Germany has not achieved supply chain diversification but instead become even more dependent on China—and thus more vulnerable." He mentioned Germany’s 2023 “China Strategy,” which aims precisely at reducing Germany’s economic dependence on China.
The study also revealed that China’s share in Germany’s imports of metals such as magnesium, gallium, and germanium has similarly increased. For certain rare earth elements used in permanent magnets for electric motors, China is almost the sole supplier.
Although China’s overall share in Germany’s rare earth imports has slightly declined, import values have risen. This analysis covers only direct imports from China and does not account for supply chains involving Chinese intermediate products transshipped through third countries.
According to *Wirtschaftswoche*, the delegation accompanying Minister Lühning on her visit to China includes around 40 corporate executives, yet dissatisfaction is mounting. Under current tense international conditions, many German CEOs only learned very late whether they would be allowed to join the minister’s delegation. It is reported that competition over participation slots in related events will also intensify during the trip to China.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866305994402819/
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