Brussels rebuffed David Cameron’s call for an EU-China trade pact as “premature”, even as Europe quietly approved a truce over solar panels that has helped to thaw a chill in relations with Beijing.
While the European Commission chided the British prime minister for jumping the gun on pushing for a comprehensive China deal, its comments belie improving EU-China trade relations after a difficult year of bloodletting over issues such as steel and wine.
Mr Cameron’s call runs with the grain of EU diplomacy, as Brussels and Beijing have pushed aside recent differences to focus on a more positive trade agenda. The two sides have already launched negotiations for a new bilateral investment treaty, which would provide investors with greater legal security.