>In fact it has a positive trade balance with China.
That doesn't contradict what OP is saying. If you work in any sort of manufacturing in EU - you know Germany makes manufacturing equipment (production lines, automation, etc.) which is expensive but also clean. China imports those to mass produce things which is cheap and dirty. They either do value added stuff or stuff that makes stuff - and outsource the pollution.
That doesn't contradict what OP is saying. If you work in any sort of manufacturing in EU - you know Germany makes manufacturing equipment (production lines, automation, etc.) which is expensive but also clean. China imports those to mass produce things which is cheap and dirty. They either do value added stuff or stuff that makes stuff - and outsource the pollution.