Wendy Cutler and James Green (Yves Herman / Pool / AFP / Getty Images) December 30th, 2020 In many respects, the last thing Brussels needed were last-minute concessions from Beijing for inclusion in the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). Launched in 2013, these negotiations only just recently seemed to be headed nowhere. In September, following a video conference call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the press: “China has to convince us that it’s worth having an investment agreement.” Both sides kept at it, recognizing that concluding a deal under the German presidency offered the last best prospect for success. The timing also coincides with the arrival of the Biden Administration, which has emphasized its commitment to work with allies and partners to address the challenges China presents to global norms and institutions. Weighing these considerations and others, the EU has decided to seal the deal with Beijing, while underscoring that this does not preclude close cooperation with the United States on China issues.