HONG KONG: China’s finance ministry said on Sunday (Jul 6) it was restricting government purchases of medical devices from the European Union that exceed 45 million yuan (US$6.3 million) in value, in retaliation to Brussels’ own curbs last month.
Tensions between Beijing and Brussels have been rising, with the European Union imposing tariffs on China-built electric vehicles and Beijing slapping duties on imported brandy from the bloc.
The European Union said last month it was barring Chinese companies from participating in EU public tenders for medical devices worth €60 billion (US$70 billion) or more per year after concluding that EU firms were not given fair access in China.
The measure announced by the European Commission was the first under the EU’s International Procurement Instrument, which entered into force in 2022 and is designed to ensure reciprocal market access.
China’s countermeasures were expected after its commerce ministry flagged “necessary steps” against the EU move late last month.
“Regrettably, despite China’s goodwill and sincerity, the EU has insisted on going its own way, taking restrictive measures and building new protectionist barriers,” the commerce ministry said in a separate statement on Sunday.
“Therefore, China has no choice but to adopt reciprocal restrictive measures.”
The EU delegation office in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
