Economic security • Table.Briefings

April 3rd, 2026

Iran war: Rising oil prices put pressure on South Africa

The war in Iran is driving up oil prices, weighing on South Africa’s economy and exposing the country’s dependence on imports.

By Andreas Sieren

Konstituierung der Kommission zur Überprüfung der sicherheitsrelevanten Wirtschaftsbeziehungen zwischen Deutschland und China unter der Sitzungsleitung von Christian Freiherr von Stetten, CDu, im Paul-Löbe-Haus

News | Economic security

March 19th, 2026

German parliament: China commission meets for the first time

The expert commission “to review the security-relevant economic ties between Germany and China” is meeting initially without MPs. It will advise the Bundestag at a later stage. You can find the list of members here.

By Angela Köckritz

Talk of the Town | Diplomacy

February 23rd, 2026

German government: New action plan against dependencies on China

Chancellor Merz faces a balancing act when dealing with China. He wants to shore up the German economy at its weak points. But German companies expect his support for their growing engagement.

By Angela Köckritz

Interview | Diplomacy

February 23rd, 2026

Omid Nouripour: “Obsession with the White House distracts from the really big issues”

Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour criticizes Germany’s White House astrology. Ahead of Merz’s visit to China, he insists on European unity. Germany and the EU, he says, should use their strategic leverage vis-à-vis China with greater confidence.

By Angela Köckritz

Talk of the Town | Economic security

February 1st, 2026

Diplomacy: Wadephul travels to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific

In six days, Germany’s foreign minister will visit Singapore, New Zealand, Tonga, Australia and Brunei. A major role will also be played by a country that is not on the itinerary at all: China.

By Angela Köckritz

RUSSIA, MOSCOW - SEPTEMBER 11, 2025: Employees disassemble household appliances collected for recycling at a facility of Ekotekhprom waste management company. Mikhail Tereshchenko TASS 83873991

Feature | Economic security

December 4th, 2025

Economic security: Commission wants to restrict exports of electronic waste

The EU Commission is planning restrictions on the export of permanent magnets to reduce the bloc’s economic dependencies. It wants to protect start-ups in high-risk sectors from hostile takeovers by third countries.

By Manuel Berkel

Feature | Economic security

December 3rd, 2025

Safety: EU Commission wants to restrict exports of electronic waste

The EU Commission is planning restrictions on the export of permanent magnets in order to reduce economic dependencies. The Commission wants to protect start-ups in high-risk areas from hostile takeovers from third countries.

By Manuel Berkel

News | Rare earths

November 9th, 2025

Rare earths: China suspends export controls for USA for one year

As announced, Beijing is lifting the export restrictions on semiconductor metals such as gallium, germanium and antimony, which were only introduced a month ago, for the time being. The background to this is the agreements between Xi and Trump to de-escalate the trade dispute between the two countries.

By Ning Wang

RECORD DATE NOT STATED Aerial photos show the containers for import and export cargo are in order, and gantry cranes and trucks are busy working in the cargo yard of Ganzhou International Inland Port, Ganzhou City, east China s Jiangxi Province, 4 November, 2022. Busy transportation for foreign trade goods in Ganzhou PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA

News | Trade

November 9th, 2025

Economic security: Bundestag plans China Commission

The CDU/CSU and SPD want to set up a commission of experts to examine Germany's economic dependencies on China and develop strategies for greater security.

By Amelie Richter

News | Rare earths

November 4th, 2025

Trade: Confusion over lifting of Chinese export controls for EU companies

While the US government assumes that US companies are exempt from all Chinese export controls on rare earths, the EU Commission only confirms the withdrawal of some Chinese export controls for EU companies.

By János Allenbach-Ammann