China has introduced new restrictions on medical equipment imports from the European Union, following trade measures by Brussels last month. The move affects a range of products, including prosthetics, surgical tools, and medical machinery.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Finance announced that EU companies will no longer qualify for Chinese government procurement if the contract value exceeds 45 million yuan (around £490,000). The rule took effect immediately. However, EU firms that manufacture goods within China are exempt.
This comes shortly after China imposed anti-dumping duties on European brandy, particularly cognac from France. Although some major producers received exemptions, the action marks another chapter in the growing trade tensions between the two sides.
In June, the EU barred Chinese firms from bidding on public contracts worth over €5 million (£4.2 million). Brussels said the goal was to encourage China to remove barriers that EU firms face when accessing Chinese procurement markets. EU officials have criticised what they see as repeated legal and administrative obstacles in China.
China responded by saying it had no choice but to act. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that China had tried to resolve the matter through dialogue. They also noted that Beijing had proposed bilateral arrangements to ease the dispute.
“Unfortunately, the EU ignored our goodwill and continued to introduce restrictions,” the spokesperson said. “These actions create new protectionist barriers.”
The trade dispute has continued to widen. China has already started investigations into EU pork and dairy imports. These followed European tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China.
