UK Trade Sec To Visit Brussels To Encourage Hard Line From EU On China

The Sun's Nick Gutteridge tweets:

• "Trade Secretary Liz Truss will travel to Brussels tomorrow for talks with EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis. She will urge the EU to join forces with Britain and the US to tackle China's 'appalling behaviour' on the world stage.
• The talks will centre on matters of global trade, not the EU-UK trading relationship which is Lord Frost's domain. On the world stage Ms Truss wants to 'work hand-in-glove' with both Europe and the US, 'particularly on challenging China to play fair and clean up its act'.
• The meeting comes after the EU published a new trade policy today that warns the 'rapid rise of China affects a level playing field for European companies competing globally and at home' and says Europe needs 'the tools to defend ourselves when we face unfair trade practices'.
• EU officials say despite post-Brexit tensions, there's lots of scope for the two sides to work together internationally. 'It's normal in a new relationship that we have some irritants. We have excellent cooperation in the G7, also on climate and different issues with the UK.'
• There remains significant hesitancy in the EU to criticise China, with many EU member states keen to develop closer links with Beijing to support much-needed economic investment. UK taking an increasingly hawkish tone with regards to Chinese policy, an action that will play well with the new administration in Washington, D.C. which continues to identify China as an economic and security threat.