New Delhi, Oct. 8 -- China has rejected a request from the European Union for voluntary curbs on hybrid car exports to the bloc, adding a new flashpoint to trade talks between Brussels and Beijing as the two sides seek to avoid a wider trade conflict, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing two diplomats briefed on the discussions.

Earlier, the European Commission had asked China to voluntarily limit shipments of China-made hybrid vehicles to Europe, according to the report.

The development comes as EU Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič travels to Beijing for two days of talks with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

The negotiations aim to address the EU's widening trade deficit with China, with Chinese expo...