Some European politicians' rhetoric advocating a tough stance on China may serve short-term political interests, but in the long run, this attitude could become a stumbling block to the EU's economic development,

The European Union’s trade chief-in-waiting has described China as the bloc’s “most challenging trade partner” at a parliamentary confirmation hearing in which he vowed to crack down on mainland-exported overcapacity “with all our force”.

The EU does not want a trade war with Beijing but five years of talks have yielded no real progress, the bloc's ambassador to China said on Saturday, adding that concern was growing over Chinese market access for European medical devices.