MOSCOW, June 11 (HS/RIA Novosti) - China has canceled two high-level meetings with EU representatives scheduled for June amid growing trade tensions between the two sides, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

On June 7, European People's Party leader Manfred Weber called on the EU to tighten trade measures against China, claiming that otherwise Beijing would allegedly paralyze European industry.

One of the canceled meetings was to be held at the ministerial level on digital issues, while the other was to involve Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service Olof Skoog, the sources told the newspaper.

The reason for the cancellations has not been disclosed.

In May, Politico reported that the European Commission had developed a package of protective trade measures against cheap imports from China. The Financial Times also reported, citing sources, that EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic was working on tariffs on Chinese chemicals and equipment to stop the strong influx of products that has shaken the position of European manufacturers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar