Experts: Germany strengthens trade with China in the face of US tariff challenges

Due to US tariffs, in the first 8 months of 2025, China surpassed the United States to become Germany's largest trading partner again. Chen Fengying, a researcher at the Institute of Modern International Relations, China, told Sputnik News that this result reflects the trend of global supply chain adjustments. Germany and the United States are undergoing significant trade restructuring. Considering China's important position in the global supply chain and the recovery of Sino-European relations, it is normal for China to regain the status of Germany's largest trading partner.

According to preliminary data from the German Federal Statistical Office, the United States became Germany's largest trading partner in 2024, ending China's eight-year reign. In January-August of this year, the total import and export volume between Germany and China reached 163.4 billion euros, while trade with the United States was 162.8 billion euros, making China once again the largest trading partner of Germany.

Specifically, in the first 8 months of this year, exports from Germany to the US fell by 7.4% to 99.6 billion euros; in August, exports to the US fell by 23.5%. By comparison, the decline in Germany's exports to China was even greater than that to the US. In the first 8 months of 2025, exports from Germany to China fell by 13.5% to 54.7 billion euros; however, imports from China increased by 8.3% to 108.8 billion euros.

Dirk Jendroska, president of the German Foreign Trade Association, said: "There is no doubt that US tariffs and trade policies are an important reason for the drop in sales." He pointed out that demand for classic German export goods such as cars, machinery, and chemicals has declined.

Karsten Jeschke, global head of macro strategy at ING, a major asset management company, said that due to ongoing tariff threats and a strong euro, German exports to the US are unlikely to rebound in the short term.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846763447968771/

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