EU Trade Chief Looks at China Reset After EV Probe

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union.

The EU’s ties with China are in a precarious state. During high-level meetings over the next four days the bloc will tell Beijing that concrete agreements are needed to reset the relationship or else things will turn even more sour. The man to deliver the message is the EU’s trade chief, Valdis Dombrovskis. His trip comes as China’s tone toward Europe hardened following last week’s announcement of an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles, which Beijing called “a naked act of protectionism.” The EU will use the opportunity to try to mitigate some of the fallout, we’re told. Dombrovskis will seek to explain to his counterparts the probe will strictly follow procedural steps, including consultations with the authorities and companies, before any potential action is taken.