China Overtakes US as Germany's Most Important Trading Partner

China for the first time became Germany's most important trading partner in 2016, overtaking the United States, which fell back to third place behind France, data showed Friday.

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German imports from and exports to China rose to US$180 billion last year, Federal Statistics Office figures reviewed by Reuters showed.

The development is likely to be welcomed by the German government, which has made it a goal to safeguard global free trade after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on imports and his top adviser on trade accused Germany of exploiting a weak euro to boost exports.

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has even suggested that the European Union should refocus its economic policy toward Asia, should the Trump administration pursue protectionism.

In 2015, the United States became the top trading partner with Germany, overtaking France for the first time since 1961.

Looking at exports alone, the United States remained the biggest client for products "Made in Germany" in 2016, importing goods from Europe's biggest economy worth some US$113 billion.

The United States came in second with a bilateral trade deficit: German exports to the U.S. surpassed imports from there by US$52 billion.