The Port of Hamburg, where around 9.7 mil-
Germany is involved in shaping globalisa-
lion standard containers are processed each
tion in various ways, be it through formu-
year, is a gateway to the world.
lating regulations for international trade,
regulating financial markets, or managing
Commitment to fair and
cash and foreign currency. Given faltering
free global trade
multilateral negotiations (the Doha Development Round), close attention is being
Germany supports open markets and fair,
paid to bilateral EU free trade agreements.
free trade based on clear and reliable regula-
Primarily, extensive treaties with the USA
tions. Among other things, the country pur-
(Transatlantic Trade and Investment Part-
sues these goals with the three pillars for
nership, TTIP) and Japan are currently un-
the promotion of foreign trade. These in-
der negotiation. The EU-Canada Compre-
clude 227 German diplomatic missions
hensive Economic and Trade Agreement
abroad, 130 German Chambers of Com-
(CETA) has been freshly negotiated. The EU
merce Abroad (AHK), delegations and repre-
Free Trade Agreement with South Korea,
sentative offices of the German economy in
the first with an Asian country, has been in
90 countries, and Germany Trade and Invest
force since 2011; since that time exports to
(GTAI), the economic development agency
South Korea have risen each year by some
of the Federal Republic of Germany. They all
10 percent. In 2015 the EU and Vietnam
help small and medium-sized enterprises
adopted a free trade agreement, the first of
penetrate new markets and endeavour to
its kind between the EU and a developing
improve framework conditions.
country.
Global market hubs: as many as 10 million visitors attend the major trade fairs annually