German finance chief warns China of rule-breaking, calls for tougher stance
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said China is ignoring global trade norms and urged Berlin to adopt a stronger approach toward the Asian power.
At a campaign event in the eastern town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil accused China of flouting international trade rules through overproduction, state aid and forced joint ventures. He urged Germany to make its industrial base, especially steel and car manufacturing, more resilient to preserve employment and limit Chinese market pressure. Klingbeil highlighted that Germany’s free-trade advocacy has been sidelined as Beijing reshapes trade dynamics to its advantage.
He praised Chancellor Friedrich Merz for sharing this tougher view and indicated that the chancellor will promote the stance from the chancellery. The comments align with recent EU decisions tasking the European Commission with drafting new trade-defence measures to address a daily deficit of over €1 billion with China. Germany’s leadership is also reportedly scouting Chinese vulnerabilities in case of a broader EU-China trade dispute.
Why it matters
The statements signal a shift toward stricter EU-China trade policies that could affect global markets and industry jobs.
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