February 25, 2026
Germany wants ‘fair’ cooperation with China, says Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang that Germany wants to deepen economic exchanges with Beijing.
However, Merz added that Germany had specific concerns on cooperation and wanted to ensure that cooperation is fair.
The chancellor stressed that the two nations must speak openly with each other.
The comments from Merz came as he began his inaugural visit to China, Germany’s largest trade partner.
Li urged Germany to help safeguard free trade, as he referred to US President Donald Trump‘s trade war, that has sent ripples down the global trading system.
“China and Germany, as two of the world’s largest economies and major countries with important influence, should strengthen our confidence in cooperation, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and strive to build a more just and fair global governance system,” the premier said.
Merz’s visit comes as Germany no longer sees the United States as a reliable partner and is scouring for global partners.
China returned to being Germany’s most important trading partner in 2025, replacing the US’s brief stint, with a trade volume of more than €250 billion ($294 billion) in 2025.
Germany’s trade relationship with China has seen a significant shift.
Germany’s trade deficit reached a record high in 2025, estimated at around €90 billion according to the German Economic Institute. This marks an increase of €30 billion over 2024 alone.
Chinese industries are also increasingly leading in sectors once dominated by German firms. The German automobile industry was successfully serving the market in China, but both countries are now witnessing a transition to electric cars. While German electric cars may bring with them brand recognition, Chinese manufacturers have managed to make their cars cheaper, even exporting them to Europe.
