China overtakes US as Germany’s top trading partner - short news
Friedrich Merz to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing, with goods worth €251bn traded between two countries in 2025
China has overtaken the US as Germany’s top trading partner, figures have shown, as the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, prepares for his first visit to Beijing since taking office.
Merz will head to China on Tuesday and will be welcomed with military honours on Wednesday in Beijing by the prime minister, Li Qiang, before later meeting the president, Xi Jinping, for talks..
source: The Guardian - 22.02.2026