{
  "id": 6045658,
  "title": "German firms back tougher EU trade measures on China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/german-firms-back-tougher-eu-trade-measures-on-china",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-06T21:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Qatar Tribune Business",
    "slug": "qatar-tribune-business",
    "url": "https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/252405/business/german-firms-back-tougher-eu-trade-measures-on-china"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent survey of approximately 1,300 German companies reveals that over half of respondents believe the European Union should implement stricter trade measures against China, even if it results in higher prices, tariffs, or potential retaliation for their own businesses. This heightened stance stems from many German firms acknowledging their dependence on Chinese supply chains and production sites for maintaining competitiveness. Among those with operations in China, support for tougher measures stands at 49%, slightly higher than the 46% who oppose them.\n\nCompetition from Chinese firms has risen across various sectors, with two-thirds of respondents reporting an increase. The industrial sector, encompassing machinery and automotive industries, has been particularly affected, with 83% of surveyed companies noting greater competition and half describing the pressure as strong or very strong.\n\nThe survey comes at a time when Brussels and Beijing are facing the risk of a trade war, as they approach an October deadline for achieving tangible progress on economic disputes. In response, Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed that German industry's perspective on global imbalances has shifted, prompting his cabinet to draft proposals to address the trade imbalance with China. Dr. Volker Treier, head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for Europe to decisively counteract competition distortions from China without harming its own economy. Treier described Chinese competition as entering a \"new dimension,\" citing the fact that Chinese suppliers have closed the technology and quality gap with German firms in some sectors, such as electric mobility.\n\nCompanies called for a coordinated EU approach towards China, with 60% seeking to reduce strategic dependencies on Chinese companies. Nearly half supported excluding Chinese firms from critical infrastructure projects, with the pressure closely tied to companies' direct exposure to China. Among firms with operations or investments in China, 88% reported growing competition, compared to 38% of those with no direct business ties to the country.",
  "summary": "AgenciesMore than half of German companies said the European Union should take stronger trade measures against China even if their own businesses would suffer higher prices, tariff...",
  "key_points": [
    "53% of German firms support stricter EU trade measures against China",
    "49% of firms with operations in China favor tougher measures",
    "83% of industrial sector companies report increased competition from China"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}