China is now the top trading market of Germany for 2016, overtaking the United States, which slid down to the third spot for the first time, according to local media on Sunday citing the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). France maintained its second place in Germany's biggest trading partner for 2016.

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According to Volker Treier, DIHK's foreign business chief, the volume of goods exported from Germany to China steeply soared in the latter part of last year, with an overall foreign trade volume reaching up to 999.1 billion yuan (around $145.3 billion).

Based on the statistics by China's General Administration of Customs, the figure marked a 2.6 percent year-on-year growth. Most of the domestic growth has been stimulated by government-backed initiatives including infrastructure development and loose credit policy, according to Financial Tribune.

China is already the largest trading market of Germany in Asia. While Germany has been the top trading partner of China in the European market over the last two years, China.org.cn reported.

Meanwhile, the United States still remains the largest export market of Germany. According to the DIHK, German goods sent to the US dropped by over 5 percent last year compared with that of in 2015.

"With its economy on an upward trajectory, the US could rise back up to second place in the coming year, unless the new US president's tariff policies dampen the country's growth outlook," Treier said.

Despite describing China's recent ascension as "changing the guard," DIHK said that both countries still need to overcome several barriers before they could enjoy a fruitful economic relationship.

TagsChina-Germany relations, China Germany trade, Chinese export