ASIATODAY.ID, BERLIN — China has officially overtaken the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner during the first eight months of 2025, according to preliminary data from the German Federal Statistical Office on Wednesday.
The shift marks a major geopolitical and economic milestone, largely driven by the new wave of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on European goods. Most EU exports to the US are now subject to a 15% tariff, while automobiles face a steep 25% levy — a move that has weighed heavily on German manufacturers.
From January to August 2025, trade between Germany and China reached €163.4 billion ($190.7 billion), narrowly surpassing Germany’s €162.8 billion trade volume with the US.
Germany’s exports to the US fell 7.4% year-on-year to €99.6 billion, reflecting weaker demand for key products such as cars, machinery, and chemicals. Although US exports to Germany rose by roughly 9% during the same period, the imbalance between Germany’s exports and imports magnified the overall decline in bilateral trade.
“The US tariffs have disrupted global trade patterns and affected America’s economic ties with many partners,” said Wang Yiwei, Director of the Center for European Union Studies at Renmin University of China, in comments to the Global Times, October 23, 2025.
He emphasized that globalization and international cooperation remain mutually beneficial, contrasting sharply with Washington’s protectionist stance.
Carsten Brzeski, Global Head of Macro at ING, told Reuters that a recovery in German exports to the US is “unlikely in the near term,” suggesting the world’s third-largest economy may increasingly lean on China to sustain its export-driven growth.
As trade tensions continue to redefine global economic alliances, Germany’s pivot toward Beijing underscores a broader realignment within international commerce — one where China’s role as Europe’s indispensable partner is only set to deepen. (RT)
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