FRANKFURT—Germany’s economy hit the brakes at the end of last year as the export powerhouse was slammed by global supply-chain bottlenecks, surging material prices and weakness in its biggest trading partner, China.
With its outsize dependence on world trade and the critical role it plays in global supply chains, the German economy has emerged as a barometer for a number of global issues, including rising energy prices, the slowdown in China and supply-chain disruptions. More than that, German industry, especially its huge car sector, is grappling with both technological upheaval and fiercer competition from Chinese rivals.
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