Germany’s Merz leaves China with stronger ties as Trump trade battle looms
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded his first visit to China, seeking to strengthen economic ties amid potential trade challenges from a possible Trump administration. Merz emphasized "good cooperation" and noted China's agreement to purchase up to 120 Airbus aircraft.
The story so far
- Feb 20
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How outlets cover it
3 outletsNot rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.
Open questions and key claims
Economic dependencies make Germany “susceptible to blackmail”.
China was “claiming the right to define a new multilateral order according to its own rules.
Xi said the world was experiencing “changes unseen in a century”.
Xi told Merz that he hoped to take bilateral ties to “new levels”.
China and Germany should jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade.
Germany's trade deficit with China hit a record 89 billion euros last year.
Chancellor Merz will visit China for the first time since becoming chancellor last May.
Germany and Europe are strengthening their military defense capability and economic competitiveness.
Who and where
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