European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is in Beijing for talks with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on October 8 and 9. The aim is to cut the EU’s growing goods trade deficit with China.

The deficit runs at more than 1 billion euros a day. Chinese curbs on rare earth and critical mineral exports are also on the agenda. Sefcovic has said he wants tangible results by October, with EU leaders meeting in Brussels on October 15 and 16.

China’s foreign ministry said open cooperation and equal dialogue are the way to resolve differences. Spokeswoman Mao Ning called healthy trade ties a common interest of both sides.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the bloc will use all tools to rebalance the relationship. G20 finance leaders, except China’s, agreed in September to act against non-market distortions.

The EU also wants Beijing to cap some exports and open its market more to European firms.