China narrows gap with US as Germany’s biggest trading partner

BERLIN (Reuters) -China came close to overtaking the United States as Germany's largest trading partner in the first half of 2025, preliminary data from the German statistics office showed, as German exports to the U.S. declined amid higher tariffs. German imports and exports with the U.S. totalled about 125 billion euros ($145 billion) from January to June, while trade with China reached 122.8 billion euros, according to Reuters calculations. "Although the U.S. was able to defend its position as Germany’s most important trading partner, the lead over German trade with China is razor-thin," said Vincent Stamer, economist at Commerzbank.