China's most senior trade official was touring Europe this week in a last-minute bid to avert the threat of special EU tariffs on electric vehicles from China.

Brussels and Beijing have agreed to take a new look at price undertakings, which could avoid extra tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.

The European Union and China agreed Thursday to intensify discussions as the two sides seek ways to avert looming tariffs on electric cars ahead of a deadline that’s only days away.

China's commerce minister said on Wednesday that Beijing will continue to negotiate "until the last minute" on the European Union's electric vehicle probe, with the investigation undermining confidence of Chinese companies investing in Europe.