Two weeks of crucial EU-China policy talks kicked off Tuesday,as big EU states seem ready to toughen their trade stance despite pressure from Beijing. Stakes are high with a leaders' summit next week set to debate future of EU's China approach.
In Brussels,Ling Ji,China's commerce vice-minister, will meet Ditte Juul Jorgensen,new EU trade director. Then he talks with Chinese businesses before heading to forums in Berlin and Dusseldorf. EU diplomats sense a trade clash with China could be near.
Beijing's issued warnings over possible EU moves to curb Chinese firms' market access. Even as European Commission pushes for more dialogue to ease tensions,doubt lingers. Many insiders don't believe Beijing will bend on EU's longstanding trade demands.
Frustration's growing in Brussels as Chinese officials seem to dismiss EU's policy arguments, which aim to support European manufacturing. Debate's heating up. EU stands at a crossroads in its tangled relationship with China…
