Trade and Investment

Research and Insights

Workers assemble industrial robots at a robot manufacturer in Nanjing city in east China's Jiangsu province.

Beyond Made in China 2025 – China’s dream of broad-based industrial greatness

Alexander Brown

Max J. Zenglein

Comment

Jun 04, 2025

China in 25: AI chips, national security and Chinese investments in Europe

Podcast

May 23, 2025

Chinese investment rebounds despite growing frictions - Chinese FDI in Europe: 2024 Update

Agatha Kratz

Max J. Zenglein

Andreas Mischer

Gregor Sebastian

Armand Meyer

Report

May 21, 2025

China’s overcapacities, with Max J. Zenglein and Jacob Gunter

Podcast

May 02, 2025

A billboard advertising U.S. beef at a supermarket in Beijing

China's economy improves as it braces for external shock

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Economic Indicators

Apr 25, 2025

The China-US trade war and implications for the EU, with Jacob Gunter

Podcast

Apr 24, 2025

US tariffs and the consequences for China (ZDFheute)

Max J. Zenglein

External publication

Apr 10, 2025

Trucks line up to depart from a container terminal in Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu province on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

MERICS China Essentials Special Issue: The US-China trade war

MERICS China Essentials

Apr 10, 2025

Aerial view of new cars waiting for transportation at the logistics center of CHANGAN Automobile in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality

Beyond overcapacity: Chinese-style modernization and the clash of economic models

Jacob Gunter

Alexander Brown

François Chimits

Antonia Hmaidi

Abigaël Vasselier

Max J. Zenglein

Report

Apr 01, 2025

A cargo ship loaded with foreign trade containers sails out of the port of Qingdao in Shandong province, China on March 18, 2025.

Staying united is the best way for the EU to reduce its trade vulnerabilities on China

François Chimits

Comment

Mar 19, 2025

China’s economy in 2025, with Max Zenglein

Podcast

Jan 23, 2025

argo ships load and unload containers in an orderly manner at the Dapukou Container Terminal in Jintang Port area of Zhoushan Port in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, Jan 4, 2025.

China’s record trade surplus + Anti-corruption campaign + De-risking

MERICS China Essentials

Jan 16, 2025

Workers assemble cars at a Beijing Benz Automotive Co. Ltd factory, a German joint venture company for Mercedes-Benz, in Beijing

German carmakers are placing a risky bet on China

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

Comment

Dec 10, 2024

China is dominating exports, but lacking in global integration, with François Chimits

Podcast

Dec 06, 2024

Fighting local government debt, with Victor Shih and Max Zenglein

Podcast

Nov 29, 2024

Chinese people buy Thai durians at an international logistics center for agricultural products in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

China’s surging overcapacities are pressuring many developing countries too

Jacob Gunter

Claus Soong

China Global Competition Tracker

Nov 27, 2024

New MERICS index: how internationally integrated is China's economy?

François Chimits

Report

Nov 21, 2024

China’s economy shows faint signs of stabilization over Q3

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Alexander Brown

Economic Indicators

Oct 23, 2024

Containers are seen at the Port of Nanjing in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, Aug 6, 2024.

Growing asymmetry: Mapping the import dependencies in EU and US trade with China

François Chimits

Report

Oct 01, 2024

Economic momentum falters over Q2

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Alexander Brown

Economic Indicators

Jul 19, 2024

Ugandan and Chinese workers at an oil field in western Uganda

China’s guerrilla strategy in a fragmenting global economy

Max J. Zenglein

François Chimits

Report

Jun 18, 2024

New MERICS & Rhodium Group report: Hungary emerges as main destination of Chinese investment in Europe

Press release

Jun 06, 2024

Online MERICS Event: Chinese investments in Europe hit decade low

Video

Jun 06, 2024

Dwindling investments become more concentrated - Chinese FDI in Europe: 2023 Update

Agatha Kratz

Max J. Zenglein

Alexander Brown

Gregor Sebastian

Armand Meyer

Report

Jun 06, 2024

China steps up investments in Hungary, with Alexander Brown and Gregor Sebastian

Podcast

Jun 06, 2024

Ships carry out container loading and unloading operations at the Dapukou container Terminal at Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang province, China, April 9, 2024.

Toward South Korean-German cooperation in economic security

Max J. Zenglein

Comment

Apr 26, 2024

German China policy must be self-confident (Tagesspiegel)

Max J. Zenglein

External publication

Apr 11, 2024

Reviewing the Sino-German economic relationship (Public hearing, German Bundestag)

Mikko Huotari

External publication

Apr 10, 2024

Passengers travel from Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, Feb 14, 2024.

Economic insecurity + Xinjiang + Wang Yi in Europe

MERICS China Essentials

Feb 15, 2024

An aerial photo shows a container ship loaded with containers leaving the wharf at Yangshan Deep Water Port Area of Shanghai Port in Shanghai, China, Sept 11, 2022.

Economic drivers of diversification

Aya Adachi

Comment

Jan 17, 2024

Cargoes and transport long vehicles are seen at a port in Keelung.

Increasing economic pressure on Taiwan is risky business for China

Max J. Zenglein

Comment

Dec 13, 2023

Beijing is not returning to its reform agenda (The Wire China)

Jacob Gunter

Max J. Zenglein

External publication

Dec 03, 2023

230810_Essentials_Headerbild_Economy_388471418

Sputtering economy + Floods around Beijing + End of Italy's BRI pact

MERICS China Essentials

Aug 10, 2023

China’s FDI in Europe (The Diplomat)

Max J. Zenglein

External publication

Jun 26, 2023

Experts on Trade and Investment

Mikko Huotari

Executive Director

China’s foreign policy; China-Europe relations; global (economic) governance and competition

Max J. Zenglein

Chief Economist

China’s macroeconomic development; international trade and investment; economic reforms

Jacob Gunter

Head of Program

China's political economy; Industrial policy; Innovation

Alexander Brown

Senior Analyst (on parental leave)

Industrial policy; foreign economic policy

Andreas Mischer

Analyst

Foreign investment; industrial policy and Chinese automotive industry

Trade and Investment

Beyond Made in China 2025 – China’s dream of broad-based industrial greatness

China in 25: AI chips, national security and Chinese investments in Europe

Chinese investment rebounds despite growing frictions - Chinese FDI in Europe: 2024 Update

China’s overcapacities, with Max J. Zenglein and Jacob Gunter

China's economy improves as it braces for external shock

The China-US trade war and implications for the EU, with Jacob Gunter

US tariffs and the consequences for China (ZDFheute)

MERICS China Essentials Special Issue: The US-China trade war

Beyond overcapacity: Chinese-style modernization and the clash of economic models

Staying united is the best way for the EU to reduce its trade vulnerabilities on China

China’s economy in 2025, with Max Zenglein

China’s record trade surplus + Anti-corruption campaign + De-risking

German carmakers are placing a risky bet on China

China is dominating exports, but lacking in global integration, with François Chimits

Fighting local government debt, with Victor Shih and Max Zenglein

China’s surging overcapacities are pressuring many developing countries too

New MERICS index: how internationally integrated is China's economy?

China’s economy shows faint signs of stabilization over Q3

Growing asymmetry: Mapping the import dependencies in EU and US trade with China

Economic momentum falters over Q2

China’s guerrilla strategy in a fragmenting global economy

New MERICS & Rhodium Group report: Hungary emerges as main destination of Chinese investment in Europe

Online MERICS Event: Chinese investments in Europe hit decade low

Dwindling investments become more concentrated - Chinese FDI in Europe: 2023 Update

China steps up investments in Hungary, with Alexander Brown and Gregor Sebastian

Toward South Korean-German cooperation in economic security

German China policy must be self-confident (Tagesspiegel)

Reviewing the Sino-German economic relationship (Public hearing, German Bundestag)

Economic insecurity + Xinjiang + Wang Yi in Europe

Economic drivers of diversification

Increasing economic pressure on Taiwan is risky business for China

Beijing is not returning to its reform agenda (The Wire China)

Sputtering economy + Floods around Beijing + End of Italy's BRI pact

China’s FDI in Europe (The Diplomat)

Mikko Huotari

Max J. Zenglein

Jacob Gunter

Alexander Brown

Andreas Mischer

Become a member

China’s overcapacity and the EU + German China policy under Merz + EU-China trade