VDMA X EAC: Business Climate China & Global Trade Under Pressure

Introduction

About The Event

We are pleased to invite you to our exclusive event addressing critical developments in global trade and China's industrial landscape.

Part One: VDMA Business Climate Survey China Results

Gain first-hand insights from VDMA's latest semi-annual survey of member companies operating in China, providing insights into current market sentiment across industrial subsectors in the machinery and equipment industry. The comprehensive analysis reveals operational trends and business climate developments essential for strategic decision-making.

Part Two: EAC Survey Results on Tariffs

EAC International Consulting presents insights on recent U.S. tariff measures and their profound impact on global trade flows. The presentation will examine specific consequences for German machinery manufacturers and discuss implications for supply chain strategies.

Interactive Panel Discussion & Networking

The event will also feature a panel discussion with industry leaders, followed by networking opportunities to exchange practical solutions with peers.

Language

Join us to gain data-driven insights and strategic perspectives for navigating today's complex business environment.

Agenda

June 18, 2025

Main Schedule

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Registration

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Welcome & Introduction

5:15 PM - 5:45 PM

VDMA Business Climate Survey China Results

Daniel Yoo

5:45 PM - 6:15 PM

EAC Survey Results on Tariffs

Daniel Berger

6:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Panel Discussion

Daniel Berger

Carlo D’Andrea

Dr. Yue Su

George C. Chang

Lieven Van Heddegem

7:15 PM - 8:00 PM

Finger Food & Networking

8:00 PM

End of The Event

Speakers

Daniel Yoo

Chief Representative at VDMA Shanghai

Daniel Berger

Partner at Eac International Consulting

Christian Sommer

CEO & Chairman of German Centre for Industry and Trade Shanghai Co. Ltd.

Carlo D’Andrea

National Vice President & Chairman of the Board of the Shanghai Chapter at European Chamber

Lieven Van Heddegem

GM at IPTE Industrial Automation (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Dr. Yue Su

Principal Economist at Access China/Asia, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

George C. Chang

Executive Director of Z Floors Group

Daniel Yoo is leading the VDMA Shanghai Representative Office as Chief Representative since 2012. He started his professional career in logistics in 2008. Before joining the VDMA he was active in Business Consulting as a Business Development Manager. He has now almost 15 years of business experience in China and Asia. He speaks Mandarin and Korean and has a good understand of East Asian and Chinese culture.

Under his leadership the industrial sub-associations of Robotics + Automation, Electronic, Micro, New Energy Production, Woodworking Machinery and Food Processing and Packaging Industry were developed in China. Until 2022 he also managed the VDMA Machine Tool sector in China in his office. Since 2015, Daniel is the Branch Manager of the German Mechanical Engineering Commercial Services, Shanghai Branch Office, the service arm of the VDMA in China.

Daniel studied East Asian Economics and Politics at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany.

Daniel Berger started his consulting career after completing his business administration studies in 1999 at EAC International Consulting in Shanghai and has been living in China ever since. As global partner, Daniel Berger is an expert in the field of automotive, renewable energy, chemicals & specialty materials, mechanical engineering and exhibition.

His focus is on the development and implementation of growth and resilience strategies as well as sustainability and decarbonatization roadmaps for international enterprises in China and Asia. Benefitting from his international exposure and business and institutional network, Daniel Berger also advises Chinese companies during their internationalization roadmap with focus on Europe and Asia.

Daniel Berger is frequently sought after and invited as key note speaker to share his insights on pivotal economic and industry subjects such as China business outlook, electric mobility, power batteries, hydrogen & fuel cell technologies and climate change.

Christian Sommer has been living and working in China for more than 25years. He started his career in one of the first German law firms in Shanghai and helped building up the German Centre Beijing, before moving to his current position in 2005.
Under his direction the German Centre Shanghai, a subsidiary of BayernLB,hasevolved into a successful platform for Sino-Germanexchange and cooperation where hundreds of German companies have started their entry into the Chinese market benefiting from Mr. Sommer´s expertise.
In 2016 Mr Sommer established the German Enterprise Centerin Qingdao, as well as the German Centre Taicang, a subsidiary of the German Centre Shanghai.
Also in 2016 Christian Sommer was appointed programme ambassador of the Chancellor Fellowship of the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation.
In September 2017 hereceived the honorary citizenship of the Chinese city Suzhou.In 2021 Christian Sommer was honoured with the Magnolia Silver Award in acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution to Shanghai´s development.
In 2024, Christian Sommer was elected Vice President to the board of the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB).In the same year, Christian Sommer was appointed Board Supervisor of Inclusion Factory, a social enterprise dedicated tothe professional integration of people with intellectual disabilities.
Furthermore Christian Sommercontributesto Sino-German cultural exchange as bass player intheShanghai rock band“ShangHighVoltage”as well as co-organizer of theSino-German table tennis tournaments.

Mr. Carlo Diego D’Andrea, founder and managing partner of D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, and Founder of DP Gro. He graduated in Law from the University of Teramo and later obtained a Master's degree in Corporate Counseling from the University of Louise. He came to China in 2005. He was the Chairman of the Legal and Competition Working Group of the Nanjing and Shanghai Chambers of the EUCCC and is now the National Vice President and chairman of the Shanghai Chapter. He has served as the Chairman of the EUCCC, Shanghai Chapter between 2017 and 2021. He has also served as the Board of EUCCC Shanghai Chapter for two terms. In addition, from November 2011 to December 2016, he was the Coordinator of the Nanjing Working Group of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce. He is currently the National Vice President of the EUCCC China and Chairman of the Board of the Shanghai Chapter.

Yue Su is the Principal Economist of Access China/Asia at The Economist Intelligence Unit. She is a frequent guest in national and international media, providing critical insight into China’s economic trends and fast changing policy environment.
Yue leads The EIU’s China research team, which provides economic and political coverage of China and has a strong client-facing element, both in terms of interacting with global clients looking at China and Chinese clients looking for a global perspective.
Yue joined the EIU in 2013. She has deep knowledge of China’s economic data and policy environment, and has played an instrumental role in shaping our forecasts and analysis for China at both the national and sub-national level. She also drives, for example, our recent successful calls on China’s GDP growth in the Covid-19 era and leads our coverage interpreting policies such as “common prosperity”, China’s 14th Five Year Plan etc. Yue has focused her research on subjects including China’s demographic trends, regional and industrial economics, infrastructure and Chinese ODI/Belt and Road Initiative.
During her time at The EIU she has contributed to several special reports, including the China Going Global Investment Index (2015 & 2017), Prospects and challenges on China’s “One Belt, One Road”: a risk assessment report and China’s supply-side structural reforms: progress and outlook. She has also acted as a consultant or advisor on several commissioned studies in the infrastructure field, such as on public-private partnerships in China and Asia.
Yue holds a doctorate in political economy from the Chinese Academy of Governance. Her research focused on the aid effectiveness of multilateral development banks and analysed the factors that might disrupt the investment returns of infrastructure projects. Before joining The EIU she worked as a local government civil servant in China. Yue holds a Masters of Economics from The University of Hong Kong.

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VDMA X EAC: Business Climate China & Global Trade Under Pressure

Introduction