How the Tables Are Turning Between Germany and China

Germany is bracing for the impact of a massive ​‘China shock’ – a combination of trade imbalances and supply chain vulnerabilities that could devastate its economy. On his first visit to Beijing since taking office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on China to address these issues, but does he have any leverage? And how committed is Merz to his policy of de-risking, which many German businesses seem to actively oppose? 

In this episode of Deutsche Welle’s Berlin Briefing, Richard Walker, Michaela Küfner and Thorsten Benner discuss.

This interview was originally published by DW on February 27, 2026.