Merz says fast-growing trade deficit with China is 'not healthy'

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 02/25/26 08:13 AM EST

BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - German Chancellor ?Friedrich Merz welcomed ?the chance ?to expand economic ?cooperation ?with China ?on Wednesday but ?said ?Germany's widening trade deficit over ?the ?past ?five years was "not healthy" and ?needed to ?be addressed.

"We are therefore addressing it ?and ?want ?to open ?up ways to reduce the trade deficit," he told ?reporters. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; ?editing ?by Andrew ?Heavens)

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