Germany’s drive to compete with China collides with long-standing tradition of Sunday rest

As rise of Chinese e-commerce platforms adds to pressure, having Sundays off remains protected under Germany’s Basic Law

Germany’s drive to compete with Chinese imports is colliding with its long-standing tradition of Sunday rest, with policymakers and retailers now asking whether a century-old consensus still fits an economy struggling to regain its competitiveness.

However, retail and business associations argue that the changes do not go far enough. The reform only touches federal working-time rules, leaving shop opening hours – regulated by Germany’s 16 states – untouched.

“The shop closing law is, in my view, a relic of the past,” Peter Adrian, president of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in mid-July. “Retailers should be left to decide whether they want to open their stores on Sundays or not.”

For many newcomers to Germany, the Sunday shutdown can be a culture shock.

After six days of almost unrestricted shopping, supermarket doors suddenly stay shut, leaving only narrow exceptions such as petrol stations, pharmacies on emergency duty, bakeries for limited hours, and shops at railway stations, airports and in designated tourist areas.