(ANSA) - BERLIN, FEB 19 - Germany's trade surplus is confirmed to be high, with 228.3 billion euros: this is what was reported by the Statistics Office of Wiesbaden for 2018. In 2017 it was 247.9bn, whereas in 2016 the trade surplus amounted to 248.9bn (record high). China remains the most important partner for Germany with a total trade turnover of 200bn euros, 6% more than in 2017, the FAZ reported. The second biggest trading partner is the Netherlands, with 189bn, up 8%. The US is the third largest trading partner, with 178bn. ''Germany is for the third consecutive time ahead of all the other countries'', said the economist at the Ifo Institute Christian Grimme. The data could become ''flammable material'', said the economic daily newspaper Handelsblatt, about the ongoing tug-of-war on the duties on German cars.(ANSA).