Overview
- Preliminary Destatis figures for January through August show China–Germany trade at $190.7 billion, narrowly ahead of $189 billion with the United States, according to Reuters calculations.
- German exports to the United States fell 7.4% year to date, including a 23.5% year-over-year drop in August.
- Trade with China reflected diverging trends, with imports into Germany up 8.3% to $126.4 billion and exports down 13.5% to $63.5 billion.
- BGA president Dirk Jandura and ING’s Carsten Brzeski link weaker U.S. sales to Washington’s tariff policy and note concerns over low-priced Chinese imports.
- Analysts warn the import surge heightens reliance on China and strains key German industries such as autos, machinery and chemicals.