The German government wants to become less dependent on China. This is the main message of the strategy that is on the table today in Berlin. “We have chosen a very sharp tone towards China,” says German correspondent Derk Marseille.
“Companies need to really be careful of products where human rights are at stake in the chain”
The document is aimed primarily at German companies and says they should at least partially reduce their presence in China. This includes companies that depend on raw materials for the energy transition, but also on semi-finished and finished products. “The document says it is no longer possible that China is the only country you depend on.”
The dangers and risks of trade with China
The strategy also refers to human rights. “Companies need to be careful about products where human rights are at stake in the chain,” says Marseille. “Germany no longer wants to continue with this as it is doing now.”
With the strategy, Germany exposes the dangers and risks of trade with China, says Marseille. But Minister Baerbock immediately makes it clear that the complete decoupling of the two economies is a utopia. “It just doesn’t happen overnight.”
Trading volume of 300 billion euros
The document also blurs some things. “It also explains why trading shouldn’t stop immediately,” the correspondent said. Even if, according to Marseilles, it is really a completely new position that Berlin is taking.
After all, it reminds us how intertwined the German and Chinese economies are. The volume of trade between the two countries is worth 300 billion euros. This makes China by far Germany’s most important trading partner. The volume of trade with the United States is 248 billion euros and with the Netherlands 230 billion euros.’