The German federal government appears to be trying to prevent the sale of the German logistics company Zippel to the Chinese state-owned conglomerate Cosco. This is reported by the Handelsblatt, which cited an internal government memo classified as “confidential – for official use only.” The document references “significant security concerns,” noting the risk of strategic dependencies that “could be used as leverage in the event of political instability.”
A final decision regarding the prohibition has not yet been made, but according to the report, insiders suggest that Cosco will ultimately not take over Zippel. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs initially declined to comment, and Zippel did not respond to inquiries.
In recent years, Chinese state-owned enterprises have increasingly been acquiring strategic companies across Europe. In both Brussels and Berlin, there is mounting concern that Beijing seeks to gain insights into the supply chains of key companies, especially those involved in transport operations crucial for the situation in Ukraine. Consequently, several Chinese investments have already been halted in recent years. This specific case is of particular importance because it involves Germany’s domestic logistics sector and the nation’s defense capabilities.
