EU negotiators travel to China seeking curbs on cheap hybrid car imports

European Union trade negotiators are travelling to China for two days of talks aimed at securing a deal to curb Beijing's exports of cheap hybrid electric vehicles into Europe, according to The Guardian.

Trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and his team were due to fly out, with negotiations scheduled to begin the following day and continue through the rest of the week.

The talks come as EU member states have hardened their demands for protection against Chinese imports, with reports suggesting the mood in the negotiations has shifted as a result. The EU has pointed to a large trade surplus held by China, estimated at roughly £1 billion a day, as a central concern driving the push for curbs.

Hybrid electric vehicles have become a focal point in the broader trade dispute between the EU and China over the automotive sector, following earlier disputes and measures concerning fully electric vehicles.

The outcome of the talks was not yet known at the time of reporting, with negotiators expected to continue discussions into the final days of the week before any agreement, if reached, would be announced.