China Regains Status as Germany's Most Important Trading Partner, Overtaking the USA

The German economy in 2025 faced significant shifts in its foreign trade structure. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, China regained its title as the most important trading partner of the Federal Republic of Germany, a position it held continuously from 2016 to 2023. The total volume of trade with Beijing amounted to 251.8 billion euros, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.1%. The main driver of this trend was a sharp rise in imports of Chinese products, particularly in the electronics and optical technology sectors. Trade relations between Berlin and Beijing have for years been the subject of debate about so-called de-risking, i.e., the attempt to reduce unilateral economic dependence on China while maintaining economic cooperation.The situation in relations with the USA deteriorated. Although the United States remained the largest recipient of German exports (146.2 billion euros), total trade turnover fell by 5% to 240.5 billion euros. This result was directly influenced by the policy of the Donald Trump administration, whose restrictive tariffs led to a 9.4% drop in German exports across the Atlantic. Simultaneously, the United States recorded a record global trade deficit in goods, exceeding 1.2 trillion dollars. These changes are particularly visible in the automotive sector, where German manufacturers had to contend with tariff barriers in the American market and strong Asian competition. Germany's trade deficit with China deepened by over 20 billion euros, reaching 89.3 billion euros, raising concerns among some experts about an excessive imbalance of imports over exports in this direction.