ExclusiveGerman President Steinmeier targets China trip as Berlin sharpens trade stance
Trip coincides with Merz’s Asia tour as Berlin and Paris advocate new EU mechanism to exclude rule-breaking trade partners
It will mark the first official visit to China since 2018 for Steinmeier, a former foreign minister whose decade-long tenure as president ends in March 2027. The visit will coincide with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trips to Japan and South Korea before the end of October.
Germany’s president is the head of state, while political power sits primarily with the chancellor and government, making Steinmeier’s a largely ceremonial role. The president does, however, represent Germany abroad.
