The new German government and trade policy – how much change is afoot?

Germany, the European Union’s economic powerhouse and most populous country, will soon have a new government. This opens a new political chapter after sixteen years of a centre-right-led coalition headed by the towering figure of Angela Merkel.
One can expect a lot of continuity on how Germany approaches EU trade policy with the outgoing Merkel government. But there will be some sharper edges on China, geo strategic issues, and the already unfolding ‘greening’ of EU trade policy and of its bilateral trade agreements.
Since Wednesday evening, the three parties making up the new government also unveiled the definitive version of what they call their ‘coalition contract’. Said ‘contract’ is in fact a detailed 177-page government programme hashed out through lengthy negotiations led over the last two months.
The detailed composition of the new coalition government will be announced on 6 December, but we already have an idea of its contours. [...]
Sharper on China? America first?
Asked about the implications of the new coalition deal on Germany’s approach to trade relations with China , the European Parliament’s international trade committee chair and SPD member Bernd Lange said: “There is a sharper focus on human rights and clear support for the anti-coercion instrument, the IPI and the foreign subsidies regulation”. [...]
Bernd Lange is clear: “We will not go on a principal route of confrontation with China”.