Have trade tensions scuppered EU-China talks ahead of tough Brussels decisions?

An EU-China dialogue on digital matters has been postponed as tensions between the two sides threaten to boil over.The meeting, initially scheduled for June 23 in Beijing, will no longer take place, with no immediate date set for a follow-up, people familiar with the situation confirmed.The Financial Times reported on Thursday that the talks had been abruptly cancelled by Beijing, along with a second meeting involving a senior EU official, as bilateral ties deteriorate on a near-daily basis.Olof Skoog, deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service – the bloc’s diplomatic arm – had been due to travel to the Chinese capital this month to lay the ground for a potential visit by top diplomat Kaja Kallas later this year.Skoog’s trip was intended as part of a series of preparatory visits that kicked off with top Asia official Erik Kurzweil last month.10:31The Europe-China trade relationship: deficits, disputes and de-risking“As far as we know, both sides are keeping communications regarding the relevant dialogue,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.