China and EU reach ‘understanding’ on hybrid vehicles after crunch trade talks

🔮 Beijing is “willing to continue” fast-tracking licenses for rare earth mineral exports to Europe, while the sides will continue negotiations on reducing tariffs and creating minimum price deals that would allow Chinese electric vehicles to enter the EU market at a lower duty rate, according to the statement.

🔮 ExclusiveGerman President Steinmeier targets China trip as Berlin sharpens trade stance Trip coincides with Merz’s Asia tour as Berlin and Paris advocate new EU mechanism to exclude rule-breaking trade partners It will mark the first official visit to China since 2018 for Steinmeier, a former foreign minister whose decade-long tenure as president ends in March 2027.

🔮 Trump may also be accompanied by his wife, Melania, who has not travelled to Asia with her husband since 2020, sources say If the trip happens, Trump’s appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, expected to run from November 16-18 in Manila, will be his second consecutive appearance at the gathering during this term.

🔮 Scott Kennedy on China’s ‘slow tech dragon’ and 2 more Xi-Trump meetings American adviser on Chinese business and economics highlights different phases of US-China relations over the past 50 years How would you characterise the outcomes of the China-US summit compared to expectations going in?

🔮 ExclusiveUS weighs delaying Taiwan arms sales until after Apec and G20 summits Sources say the decision is expected to be a compromise between Donald Trump, Washington’s China hawks and Taipei’s lobbyists One source said Trump was considering various options to postpone the signing of Taiwan arms sales, but the final outcome would be a “compromise between him, the China hawks and Taiwan’s lobbyists”. “President Trump has considered delaying the [Taiwan] arms sales decision till end 2028 or January 2029, that is, towards the end of his current term.

🔮 The call is expected to have locked down final details of Xi’s closely watched visit and expected summit with US President Donald Trump.

🔮 ExclusiveChina, US may unveil measures to boost military ties when Xi visits Washington Two sides have been discussing ways to improve communication channels, according to sources familiar with the talks Another item that is being discussed, and a possible deliverable, is restarting the arms-control talks that were suspended in 2024 over US weapons sales to Taiwan, with the dialogue potentially including military personnel.

🔮 He also said Beijing was willing to work with Brics countries to play a “due role” in bringing peace to the Middle East, calling for the group of emerging economies to oppose bloc confrontation and the “infringement upon the sovereignty of other countries and interference in their affairs”.

🔮 Beijing is “willing to continue” fast-tracking licenses for rare earth mineral exports to Europe, while the sides will continue negotiations on reducing tariffs and creating minimum price deals that would allow Chinese electric vehicles to enter the EU market at a lower duty rate, according to the statement.

🔮 Chinese firms based in Europe said they hoped the talks could achieve some “limited progress” to help stabilise the trade relationship, while European analysts remained cautious about the potential outcome.

🔮 While Renault hailed it as an example of the group’s dedication to the factory, some workers voiced concerns: the assembly line would create only a handful of jobs, they said, and its products could directly compete with the plant’s other wares, risking further unemployment.

🔮 It left her with a question: how could a railway be so empty, clean and punctual, and still make money?

🔮 The list now includes 18 chemicals, all of which could be used in fentanyl production.

🔮 In a first, top European design prize awarded to €20 uniform for China’s delivery drivers Developed with the assistance of Jack Ma, designers aimed to bestow dignity on the drivers, an ‘important profession’, the lead designer says Taobao Shangou, Alibaba’s instant commerce and on-demand delivery service that was revamped last year, won a top French Design Award prize on Saturday for its delivery worker uniform, marking the first time the prize was awarded for a design for frontline workers. “We think the [Taobao Shangou] suit design would transform delivery workwear into a recognisable professional uniform, helping reshape how society sees this essential profession,” said Dario Olivero, chair of the award’s organising committee.

🔮 Beijing is “willing to continue” fast-tracking licenses for rare earth mineral exports to Europe, while the sides will continue negotiations on reducing tariffs and creating minimum price deals that would allow Chinese electric vehicles to enter the EU market at a lower duty rate, according to the statement.

🔮 ExclusiveGerman President Steinmeier targets China trip as Berlin sharpens trade stance Trip coincides with Merz’s Asia tour as Berlin and Paris advocate new EU mechanism to exclude rule-breaking trade partners It will mark the first official visit to China since 2018 for Steinmeier, a former foreign minister whose decade-long tenure as president ends in March 2027.

🔮 Last chance saloon: EU presses China for a sign to prove trade talks can work Brussels hopes Chinese commerce ministry will agree to modest ‘proof-of-concept’ arrangement at top-level meetings in Beijing

🔮 EU retools Trump trade war tripwire into China shipments surge alarm Bloc’s trade enforcement chief says the system is already picking up what may be worrying trends in a range of product categories The bloc was concerned that Chinese shipments bound for the United States would be diverted to Europe at lower prices, imperilling local manufacturers.

🔮 EU weighs sweeping new trade powers against China before make-or-break October Europe’s actions in coming weeks could set the course of EU-China relations for years to come and the mood in Brussels is hardening