Germany has blocked a proposed acquisition by COSCO, signalling a more assertive stance by European authorities toward foreign investments in critical logistics assets. The decision, announced by Berlin, comes amid a broader push within the European Union to scrutinise purchases by companies with close ties to foreign states. German officials cited concerns about control of strategic infrastructure and the need to protect national security and supply-chain resilience.
The move follows the implementation of enhanced investment-screening mechanisms at both national and EU levels. The European Commission framework encourages member states to assess transactions that could affect essential services and critical infrastructure, while the German government has refined its own rules to allow intervention where strategic interests are at stake. Authorities have increasingly used these powers to evaluate operations involving ports, terminals and logistics hubs.
COSCO is a major global shipping and logistics operator headquartered in China and has expanded its European footprint in recent years. The sector’s strategic importance—handling goods, storage and port services—has made transactions in logistics particularly sensitive. Industry participants and regulators say transparency on operational control, data access and long-term management are now central to approval assessments. COSCO’s corporate site provides company information but offers no comment on pending regulatory decisions: COSCO.
The German decision is likely to reverberate across markets where state-linked or foreign-owned operators seek stakes in logistics and transport infrastructure. It highlights continuing efforts to balance openness to investment with the protection of critical services. As member states refine screening practices, companies and investors in the logistics sector may face closer, more structured review of deals that touch on national or regional strategic interests, with implications for cross-border M&A and long-term industry planning.
