German Economy Minister Habeck on visit to Beijing
USGerman trade overtook ChinaGerman volumes in early 2024
China slowdown, geopolitical factors due to weigh further

BEIJING, June 21 Reuters Economy Minister Robert Habeck will underline Germany39;s resolve to pursue commercial links with China during a visit starting Friday but trade experts say economic and political factors all increasingly favour the U.S.German relationship.

Habeck will be seeking to explain to Chinese officials the European Union39;s recent announcement of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles while allaying the risk of retaliation from China that could harm German export business there.

Already, Germany39;s 60 billion euros 64 billion of trade with China in the first quarter of 2024 was less than the 63billioneuro total volume of U.S.German trade. That snapped a trend that has ranked China as Germany39;s top trading partner for eight years in a row.

Official figures released on Friday underlined the shift German exports to China fell 14 in May from a year ago while exports to the United States rose 4.1.

A real estate crisis, high local government debt and other challenges are depressing domestic Chinese activity, prompting some to suggest it could face a period of stagnation similar to Japan39;s lost decades starting in the 1990s.

Maximilian Butek, executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in East China, said German trading partners for the time being remained committed to a…