China has once again overtaken the United States to become Germany’s top trading partner, following a period of shifting global trade dynamics triggered by President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff measures.
According to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis), trade between Germany and China totalled nearly €186 billion ($215 billion) from January to September 2025, reflecting a slight increase over the previous year.
In contrast, German trade with the United States fell by almost 4 percent, dropping to just under €185 billion during the same period. The decline coincides with the U.S. tariff onslaught launched by the Trump administration, which has affected several key German export sectors.
China previously held the position of Germany’s top trading partner from 2016 to 2023, before being overtaken by the United States in 2024, as Berlin sought to reduce its economic dependence on Beijing. The latest data, however, shows a reversal of that trend.
ING economist Carsten Brzeski told AFP that the shift underscores the impact of U.S. trade policies. He explained that the development “reflects the negative impact that U.S. tariffs are having on German exports to the U.S.”
The renewed rise of China as Germany’s leading trading partner highlights the continued strength of economic ties between the two nations, even as geopolitical tensions and global trade shifts reshape international markets.
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