German Committee to Scrutinize China Trade, Signaling New Risks for Investors and Supply Chains.

This move involves establishing an expert committee tasked with reporting to parliament on issues such as energy and raw material imports, as well as Chinese investment in critical German infrastructure. The decision stems from a period of increasing trade tensions and recent disruptions, such as Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports that impacted Germany's automotive sector.

The committee will also examine other countries' trade relations with China and provide recommendations for potential changes to foreign trade rules. This policy re-evaluation marks a departure from decades of German free trade dogma, with some political figures advocating for more protectionist measures to safeguard European industries like steel.

The committee is expected to report twice a year.