Since the beginning of last year, China and the United States have been engaged in a trade conflict involving the mutual placement of tariffs. US President Donald Trump had declared in his campaign to counter China’s “unfair practices” and recently dropped an economic bomb on China by putting tech giant Huawei on a trade blacklist. However, China is predicted to hit back at the US soon. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been preparing China for a long trade war with a focus on the value of self-reliance and the “Long March” spirit.

The conflict escalation between the US and China and tit-for-tat tariffs have adverse effects on many European companies. Some of German firms already fear that the ongoing conflict will severely hurt the German business model which depends on exports and free trade. Not only German companies but also companies from ASEAN countries might face an increased challenge in the direction of an “either USA or China” decision.

Meet Mr. Jens Hildebrandt, Executive Director of the German Chamber of Commerce in China – North (AHK Greater China), to discuss the implications of trade war between the US and China on Germany-China economic relation. He will also share with us his perspective on how German companies could prepare themselves.