China and EU poised to sign long-delayed investment deal

Deal set to anger incoming Biden administration in US, which demanded to be consulted before deal went ahead

China and the EU appear to have resolved their differences over protecting labour rights in China and are set to sign a long-delayed investment agreement on Wednesday likely to make the economies of the two blocs more interdependent.

The investment talks have centred on opening up Chinese markets for European investment, as well as addressing Chinese practices opposed by the EU concerning industrial subsidies, state control of enterprises and forced technology transfers.