Peter Mandelson, the European Union trade commissioner, warned China yesterday that the EU could be forced to use anti-dumping measures to defend itself against Chinese exports if Beijing failed to help cut an "unsustainable" trade deficit growing by €15m an hour.

Mr Mandelson's comments echoed his call made in Washington earlier this month, highlighting the concerns in Brussels in the run-up to a Sino-Europe summit to be held in the Chinese capital next week.