Germany's Steinmeier warns China against one-sided economic gains

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged China to avoid pursuing one-sided advantages in economic relationships, as tensions simmer over the European Union's expanding trade deficit with Beijing. The remarks underscore deepening concerns among European leaders about the sustainability of current commercial arrangements.

The European Union has characterised its widening trade gap with China as unsustainable and has signalled a more assertive stance in addressing the imbalance. Officials have indicated they are prepared to deploy all available policy tools to rectify what they view as unfair trading practices.

Steinmeier's comments reflect a broader shift in European strategy toward China, moving away from engagement-focused diplomacy toward a more reciprocal approach. German and EU policymakers have increasingly emphasised the need for balanced partnerships that protect European economic interests while maintaining necessary trade relationships.

The tensions highlight ongoing disputes over market access, intellectual property protection, and state subsidies in China's economy. European nations have grown frustrated with what they perceive as limited market openness from Beijing despite their own relatively open markets to Chinese goods and investment.