France, Oct. 8 -- Sefcovic and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will co-chair the second EU-China Trade and Investment Council, with negotiations expected to continue into late Friday.

Brussels says it wants "tangible, meaningful and measurable" results before EU leaders meet in Brussels next Thursday, when China will be high on the agenda.

The central proposal is a "proof of concept" deal covering one sector - expected to be cars - that could later be extended to chemicals, plastics and other industrial goods. The EU is seeking voluntary Chinese limits on hybrid exports, while warning that failure to agree could trigger safeguard measures, including quotas.

The issue has become crucial because Chinese battery-electric vehicles ha...