Tough stance from commissioner viewed as somewhat divergent

Beijing has urged Brussels' senior trade official to be "rational" in managing bilateral trade disputes instead of using hard-line approaches.

"The bilateral relationship between China and the EU in trade and economics is one of the largest in the world ... we need to be rational when trade disputes occur, and we should not be willful," said a representative of the China Mission to the European Union on Monday. "Don't presume you can gain by showing your muscle."