"A dangerous development: Germany's trade deficit with China more than doubled in 2022. We should learn from the experience with Russia," the minister said on social media.
He added that instead of becoming more dependent on Beijing, Berlin should "urgently review this and opt for more free trade with partners who share our values."
China emerged as Germany's biggest trade partner for the seventh straight year in 2022, with trade reaching 297.9 billion euros ($318.8 billion). China exported 191.1 billion worth of goods to Germany.
Germany's trade deficit stood at 84.3 billion, according to Destatis, the federal statistics agency.