EU trade negotiators are heading to China for two days of crunch talks starting Thursday, aimed at a breakthrough deal tackling China’s record £1bn-a-day trade surplus and at sealing a pilot deal on cars, according to The Guardian.

Last month, the EU asked China to voluntarily restrict hybrid exports, warning that safeguards — which could include quotas — could be enacted, according to the newspaper. On Monday, Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, agreed to a “historic U-turn” on its policy on China by siding with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to The Guardian.