Berlin to Draft EU-Level Proposals on China Trade Imbalance
Germany's Chancellor Merz has tasked federal ministers with drafting EU proposals to tackle trade imbalances with China, while also setting a growth target above 1% for next year.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Wednesday that he has instructed federal ministers to develop proposals aimed at correcting the trade imbalances between the European Union and China. The directive was disclosed during a press conference held after a cabinet meeting of his coalition government.
Merz did not specify the exact nature of the measures under consideration, but the move signals Berlin's intent to take a more active role in shaping the bloc's trade policy toward Beijing. The proposals are expected to be brought forward at the EU level, reflecting the shared competence of member states in trade matters.
In a separate but related economic note, the Chancellor also stated that the government is targeting economic growth of more than 1% for the coming year. The growth projection comes amid a broader European economic slowdown and ongoing discussions about competitiveness and external trade dependencies.
The announcement underscores the German government's dual focus on addressing structural trade concerns with China while maintaining domestic economic momentum. Further details on the proposed measures are expected in the coming weeks as ministers begin their work.