Germany’s Bundestag, or Lower House of Parliament, passed a historic bill allowing it to sidestep its strict rules on debt to spend big on defence and infrastructure. Why is this move a big deal? And why does its timing matter?

Germany's lower house of parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on a massive surge in borrowing that could boost Europe's largest economy and stimulate growth across the region, even as it faces trade tensions with top partner the United States.

Germany's parliament on Tuesday passed a historic bill unlocking a record level of state borrowing for defence and infrastructure through amending the country's constitutionally enshrined fiscal rules.