German government pledges to defend trade, signalling tougher China stance

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The German government has pledged to defend trade more robustly, signaling a tougher stance towards China within the European Union. This move aims to revive Germany’s struggling economy, with economic policy shifts hinted but China not explicitly mentioned.

Germany’s ruling coalition has pledged to take a tougher line on defending trade at the continental level, signalling a potential shift by a country long seen as the European Union’s main brake on stronger action against China. The pledge formed part of a 34-point package to revive Germany’s ailing economy that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition agreed to on Thursday. While the document did not mention China, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the government was adopting a...