Beijing has criticised new European tariffs on Chinese steel as "unjustifiable" protectionism, weeks after commerce ministers from G20 nations pledged to promote free trade.

The European Union is considering making the lowering of trade defences to Chinese imports conditional on China sharply reducing the amount of steel it exports to Europe, according to an EU official involved in the talks.

THE cost of cutting greenhouse gas emissions has dropped dramatically and Europe is in danger of losing its lead in taking advantage of the green economy, according to an analysis from the European Commission.