United Daily News (UDN), one of the primary Taiwanese news groups, recently reported that Germany’s Trade and Investment Agency (GTAI) said, by the end of 2025, German exports to the United States are expected to decline sharply, while the trade deficit with China will reach a record high. GTAI analysis points to U.S. tariff policies, weak demand in the U.S. and Chinese markets, and German companies shifting production to China as the main reasons.
GTAI estimated that Germany’s exports will grow by only 0.6 percent in 2025, totaling approximately 1.6 trillion Euros. Germany’s exports to its largest export market, the United States, are projected to decline by 7.3 percent compared to 2024.
Germany’s core manufacturing sector also faces competitive pressure from China – machinery manufacturing as an example. German car exports are projected to decline by approximately 3.2 percent too, primarily due to weak demand in the Chinese market and competition from Chinese electric vehicles. Germany’s total exports to China are projected to decline by approximately 10 percent in 2025.
On the import side, Germany’s reliance on China continues to deepen. GTAI projects that Germany’s imports from China increases by 7.2 percent annually, making China Germany’s largest supplier of goods. With declining exports and continuously expanding imports, Germany’s trade deficit with China will climb to approximately 87 billion Euros, a record high according to GTAI.
Source: UDN, December 15, 2025
https://money.udn.com/money/story/5599/9204967