German firms urge China to deliver on market commitments

German companies operating in China are urging Beijing to fulfill its economic commitments ahead of a visit this week by Katherina Reiche, amid growing concerns over mounting business challenges in one of Germany’s key export markets.

Oliver Oehms, head of the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) in northern China, said that the minister should push for concrete measures aimed at creating a more sustainable and predictable business environment, dpa reports.

“The intense price pressure is taking its toll on German companies in China,” Oehms said. However, he noted that measures announced by Beijing to promote more balanced markets had so far “remained largely rhetorical.”

According to an AHK survey conducted in April, 39% of respondents said the German government should advocate for fair competition and healthy pricing conditions with Chinese authorities.

The survey, which included responses from 216 companies out of the association’s more than 1,800 members in China, also showed that 51% of participants support stronger efforts to establish partnerships between German and Chinese firms.

“We hope the visit will help to transfer the insights gained on the ground into the political discussion in Berlin and to further develop bilateral exchange,” Oehms said.

Reiche is expected to visit Beijing on May 27 before traveling to Guangzhou, one of southern China’s main industrial hubs, on May 28.

In addition to longstanding concerns over competitive disadvantages faced by foreign companies, China’s export controls on critical raw materials, including rare earths, are expected to feature prominently during the visit.

More than a year after the restrictions were introduced, German industries remain concerned about uncertainty in supply chains, as the metals are essential for a broad range of industrial and technological products.

According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office of Germany, China surpassed the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner in 2025.

By Vafa Guliyeva