China’s Foreign Ministry has urged Germany to focus on cooperation rather than searching for vulnerabilities in the Chinese economy. Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks on July 29 in response to a Bloomberg report claiming that Berlin is examining possible leverage against Beijing in preparation for a potential trade confrontation.
According to sources, German officials are analysing trade flows and company data to determine the extent to which China depends on European technology and industrial expertise. The areas reportedly identified include German companies Trumpf and Carl Zeiss, which specialise in high-precision industrial and optical technologies.
Mao Ning said that interdependence within production and supply chains is a natural feature of the globalised economy. She added that China-Germany economic cooperation is based on mutual benefit and that the two sides should strengthen communication and coordination to support the stability of global supply chains.
Germany is seeking to reduce its economic dependence on China, although the Chinese market remains important for its largest companies. China remained Germany’s biggest trading partner in 2025, with bilateral trade in goods reaching approximately €250 billion. Around 5,000 German companies operate in China, increasing the economic risks of a possible trade confrontation for both sides.
Tensions between the two countries are also being fuelled by Germany’s trade deficit, growing competition from Chinese companies and disputes over Chinese state subsidies. While Europe is seeking to reduce its dependence on Beijing, China views such measures as protectionist.
