(China, 4th) In response to reports that the EU voted to ban Chinese medical device manufacturers from participating in EU public procurement project tenders worth over 5 million euros (24,192,600 MYR) for the next five years, China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the EU for unilaterally undermining fair competition and establishing new trade barriers.
The spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce, when answering questions about the EU's proposed restrictions on Chinese enterprises participating in medical device public procurement, criticized the EU's decision and discriminatory measures not only for harming the interests of Chinese enterprises but also for using unilateral tools to disrupt fair competition and build new trade barriers. China firmly opposes this protectionist approach.
The spokesperson stated that currently, the global economic order is experiencing severe impacts from unilateralism and protectionism. China and the EU should adhere to WTO rules, insist on fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory principles, maintain mutual openness, and engage in cooperative dialogue to jointly uphold the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations.
The spokesperson urged the EU to correct its erroneous actions and emphasized that China will closely monitor subsequent EU actions and will take measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
According to an AFP report, EU diplomats said on the 2nd that after discovering that EU companies did not receive fair opportunities to participate in public tenders in China, EU member states supported a proposal by the European Commission to restrict Chinese medical device suppliers from bidding on public contracts.
This is the first time the EU has used the International Procurement Instrument passed in 2022 to vote for such restrictions, which aim to promote reciprocity in access to public procurement markets.
The EU-China Chamber of Commerce subsequently issued a statement expressing disappointment and concern over the EU's decision and urged the EU to reconsider its decision.
The spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce, when answering questions about the EU's proposed restrictions on Chinese enterprises participating in medical device public procurement, criticized the EU's decision and discriminatory measures not only for harming the interests of Chinese enterprises but also for using unilateral tools to disrupt fair competition and build new trade barriers. China firmly opposes this protectionist approach.
The spokesperson stated that currently, the global economic order is experiencing severe impacts from unilateralism and protectionism. China and the EU should adhere to WTO rules, insist on fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory principles, maintain mutual openness, and engage in cooperative dialogue to jointly uphold the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations.
The spokesperson urged the EU to correct its erroneous actions and emphasized that China will closely monitor subsequent EU actions and will take measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
According to an AFP report, EU diplomats said on the 2nd that after discovering that EU companies did not receive fair opportunities to participate in public tenders in China, EU member states supported a proposal by the European Commission to restrict Chinese medical device suppliers from bidding on public contracts.
This is the first time the EU has used the International Procurement Instrument passed in 2022 to vote for such restrictions, which aim to promote reciprocity in access to public procurement markets.
The EU-China Chamber of Commerce subsequently issued a statement expressing disappointment and concern over the EU's decision and urged the EU to reconsider its decision.