Thread by @f_hamader

In light of the current debate about allowing #Huawei access to #Germany´s #5G network I have decided to translate/update a recent #thread of mine. #Merkel is apparently afraid of retaliation due to the importance of the Chinese market for German companies. But is it justified?

https://twitter.com/f_hamader/status/1169312426879311873

Let´s look into Germany´s trade relations. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany provides some insight and can contribute to a change of perspective.
➡️destatis.de/DE/Themen/Wirt…

It is indeed true that China is Germany´s biggest trading partner. But that is imo a selective view to the detriment of Germany and its citizens.

If we separate Ex&Im and look at the balance of trade we get a more nuanced view.
Germany´s most important exp destinations 2018:
1) USA🇺🇸
2) FRA🇫🇷
3) CHN🇨🇳
7) AUT🇦🇹 (tiny EU neighbour with ~70% exp volume of DEU>CHN, yet pop 8.8mio vs 1.4bn. So much for the giant Chinese market)

Now to imports:
1) CHN🇨🇳
2) NLD🇳🇱
3) FRA🇫🇷
10) AUT🇦🇹

and the trade balance:
1) USA🇺🇸 + (pos trade balance)
2) GBR🇬🇧 +
3) FRA🇫🇷 +
4) AUT🇦🇹 +
237) CHN🇨🇳 - (neg trade balance)

A graphic for better visibility (in ger)

If we take a look at country groups the picture becomes even clearer. The EU accounts for roughly 60% of German exports. If we include the rest of Europe the figure rises to 70%.
➡️de.statista.com/statistik/date…
We can even read newspaper reports about that
➡️handelsblatt.com/politik/deutsc…

To summarize: DEU has fundamentally more important trade relations with the rest of the EU and the USA as well as a positive trade balance. Counted together the EU is by far DEU´s most important trading partner. Even small countries like AUT are highly significant.

DEU´s wealth is primarily made in the EU. We have to stop to separate the EU into its tiny member states. Only if we count it together we see the real importance the EU/Europe has for us.

Framing CHN as DEU´s biggest trading partner masks a vital part of the truth and could be drawn straight from the CCP propaganda playbook.

It is crucial that we start seeing Europe as a whole, not only in regard to the economy but all aspects of politics. Europe is a playground for great powers, from US secondary sanctions to Russian assassinations and Chinese pressure on the freedom of expression.

It is of utmost importance that European states change course. If a nation can´t protect and assert its interests, if a nation allows infringements of its sovereignty it automatically loses legitimacy, therefore endangering its own survival.

Again fyi dear China watchers, hope it´s of interest and that it might help in the Huawei debate @dktatlow @TheresaAFallon @thorstenbenner @bernhardbartsch @m_huotari