A Sharper Tone From Berlin Germany’s leader issued one of the clearest public warnings yet to Beijing over trade practices, signaling that Europe’s largest economy is prepared to push back harder if it sees continued market distortions, unfair competition, or strategic pressure in key industries. In remarks that quickly reverberated across European capitals and Asian markets, Germany’s chancellor stressed that open trade must be reciprocal —and that access to the European market cannot be taken for granted if European companies face barriers in China. While Germany has long favored engagement and dialogue with Beijing, the latest comments reflect a broader recalibration underway across Europe as concerns mount over supply chains, electric vehicles, green technology subsidies, and geopolitical alignment. What Prompted the Warning? The blunt message comes amid several overlapping tensions: Electric vehicle competition: European automakers have raised alarms over heavily su...