China has overtaken the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner.
Trade between Germany and China reached €251bn in 2025, according to official data.
Commerce with the US fell to €240bn after a 5% decline.
Germany imported far more than it exported to China.
Imports totalled about €170.6bn, while exports reached €81.3bn.
Tariffs introduced by Donald Trump are seen as one factor behind weaker US trade.
Merz will travel to Beijing for his first China visit as chancellor.
He will meet Li Qiang and Xi Jinping for talks on trade, Ukraine and human rights.
A delegation of German business leaders will accompany him.
Germany’s car industry remains deeply tied to the Chinese market.
Companies such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz rely heavily on Chinese sales and production.
The EU is trying to reduce dependence on China for critical materials and manufacturing.
However, Germany’s economic interests make a tougher trade stance difficult.
