Friedrich Merz to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing, with goods worth €251bn traded between two countries in 2025

Germany’s Federal Statistical Office released figures on Friday showing that China is back on top as the country’s most important market with €251bn (£219bn) in trade in 2025, up 2.2% on 2024 when the US was the country’s leading export destination.

  • ✺roguetrick✺@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    4 hours ago

    Germany’s need to support the car industry, one of the country’s biggest employers, has made its approach to barriers to Chinese imports less black and white.

    It voted against an EU decision to introduce tariffs on Chinese EVs in 2024 and this month was spared EU tariffs on imports of the Chinese-built Volkswagen Cupra Tavascan SUV in exchange for undertakings on the minimum price of the vehicle.

    I’m having a hard time parsing this. It’s supporting the car industry offshoring as an economic boon for one of its biggest employers?

    • ViatorOmnium@piefed.socialEnglish
      12·
      7 hours ago

      It’s about having deals that will allow the German oligarchs to partially own the Chinese brands. Do you think Merz actually cares about common Germans?

      • ✺roguetrick✺@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        3 hours ago

        I do not I just can’t believe these neolibs are that fucking bold faced about it. Like I get sacrificing one manufacturing industry for another. That’s industrial policy, even if it’s often corrupt. But this is sacrificing a manufacturing industry for its owners. It’s just… stupid.