EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has arrived in Beijing to negotiate with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao regarding the EU's growing trade deficit with China (exceeding €1 billion daily) and China's export restrictions on rare earths and other critical minerals. The two-day discussions come as calls for a tougher trade policy towards China grow within the EU, following China's rejection of the EU's request for voluntary limits on Chinese hybrid car exports and its warning of a "resolute response" if the EU implements restrictions.