Ahead of his inaugural visit to China, starting Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been urged by the SPD to address significant economic tensions. Esra Limbacher, the SPD's spokesperson for small and medium-sized enterprises, emphasized the need to confront China's "sometimes aggressive trade policy," specifically mentioning suspicions of dumping in the steel and automotive sectors, and Germany's high dependency on Chinese raw materials like rare earths, which poses a political threat. While acknowledging the mutual interest in strong economic ties, with China having been Germany's most important trading partner in 2025, Limbacher stressed that Merz should also consider the strong public sentiment in Germany favoring more "Made in Europe" products. Merz's itinerary includes meetings with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing, focusing on resource dependency and fair competition, before concluding his visit in Hangzhou on Thursday, accompanied by a 30-member business delegation.