Germany aims to expand partnership with China

Today, amid a two-day visit to China, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, “We are in favor of free world trade. We are in favor of removing trade barriers.” China overtook the U.S. as Germany’s most important trading partner last year. Despite the “obstacles,” Wadephul said, Germany intends to expand the partnership. The visit was originally scheduled for October but was delayed due to Germany’s condemnation of the Chinese Communist Party’s aggressive behavior toward Taiwan. French President Emmanuel Macron just returned from a three-day visit to China, during which he threatened to impose tariffs on China if it doesn’t lower its trade surplus with the EU. Though China and the EU are competitors, animosity toward the U.S. unites them.