1. Home
  2. Studies
  3. China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe
External Publication 9. April 2024 Jürgen Matthes in Intereconomics China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe

China’s merchandise trade surplus has reached an all-time high and is likely to rise further. A key driver appears to be a policy push to further bolster Chinese domestic manufacturing production, implying the danger of significant overcapacities.

to Download
External Publication
China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe
External Publication 9. April 2024 Jürgen Matthes in Intereconomics

China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe

Jürgen Matthes in Intereconomics German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

China’s merchandise trade surplus has reached an all-time high and is likely to rise further. A key driver appears to be a policy push to further bolster Chinese domestic manufacturing production, implying the danger of significant overcapacities.

China’s imbalance between domestic production and consumption implies that China draws on the domestic demand of other countries to sustain its economic growth. It does so at the potential expense of production and employment of those trading partners with high trade deficits with China. As this constellation could be the source of growing trade conflicts, this article analyses China’s growing trade surplus in several dimensions with a focus on China's trade relation to the EU.

to Download
External Publication
China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe
External Publication 9. April 2024 Jürgen Matthes in Intereconomics

China’s Trade Surplus – Implications for the World and for Europe

Jürgen Matthes in Intereconomics German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

More about this topic

More about this topic

Read the article
Der Euro als Leitwährung
Event 11. November 2026 Alexander Radunz / Sandra Parthie

Online-Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin”: Der Euro als Leitwährung

Wir laden Sie herzlich zu einer weiteren Online-Veranstaltung unserer Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin“ ein. Mit ihr wollen wir in loser Folge Themen aus der europäischen in die deutsche Hauptstadt tragen.

Alexander Radunz / Sandra Parthie IW

Read the article
IW-Report No. 45 29. October 2026 Alexander Radunz / Gero Kunath

Go West? Serbia under Vučić

Aleksandar Vučić had led Serbia since 2014, first as prime minister and from 2017 as president, until his rule ended in October 2026 in a landslide defeat by the Student List. This report assesses the political and economic record of his twelve years in power.

Alexander Radunz / Gero Kunath IW

More about this topic

Content element with id 9713