EU-China tensions escalate over medical device trade restrictions
Under the Commission's previous move last month, Chinese companies are barred from bidding on public contracts for medical devices in the EU single market exceeding €5 million. Additionally, winning bids must contain no more than 50% of components sourced from China.
In a statement, China said it had 'no choice but to implement countermeasures".
A spokesperson for China's ministry of commerce added that Beijing has repeatedly expressed, through bilateral dialogues, its willingness to address differences with the EU through dialogue, consultation, and bilateral procurement arrangements.
'Unfortunately, the EU has ignored China's goodwill and sincerity and continues to impose restrictive measures and build new protectionist barriers,' the statement read.
This latest escalation follows Beijing's announcement last week of anti-dumping duties of up to 34.9% on European brandy imports for the next five years.
The pattern of reciprocal trade actions continues to define the EU-China economic relationship.
In recent weeks, China extended its anti-dumping investigation into EU pork imports by six months, while the EU imposed tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
These developments come at a sensitive time in EU-China relations, which are undergoing a cautious diplomatic reset.
A key milestone in the evolving dialogue will be the upcoming EU-China Summit, scheduled to take place in Beijing in the second half of July 2025.
Concerns from Europe
MedTech Europe, the EU's medical devices industry association, expressed regret over China's latest decision, saying it further restricts access to the Chinese public procurement market.
'Measures of this nature risk deepening trade tensions and ultimately deny patients timely access to indispensable medical technologies,' the group said in a statement.
'We urge both the European Union and China to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve current challenges to market access and to uphold fair, predictable, and reciprocal trading conditions.'
The European Chamber of Commerce in China echoed these concerns, warning that the announcement increases uncertainty for European businesses operating in the country.
In particular, the lack of specificity in the new restrictions raises the risk that local authorities managing public tenders may enforce the measures in an overly stringent manner.
This could exclude even highly localised European medical device manufacturers from bidding for contracts, according to the Chamber.
For instance, although the Chinese government has indicated that European-invested enterprises in China will be exempt from the restrictions, the notice does not clarify what qualifies as a 'European-invested enterprise'.
According to the European Chamber, it also remains unclear whether volume-based procurement tenders, which often exceed the threshold, will fall under the new rules.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion Network
24 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
Swiss watch exports decline amid US tariff uncertainty
Swiss watch sellers in Lucerne have endured a tough three months since U.S. President Donald Trump piled pressure on the luxury business with the threat of hefty tariffs, reducing interest from tourists who flock to the city in part to shop for watches. Reuters spoke with over a dozen industry workers in the watch-selling hub, including shop managers and salespeople, who said tariff uncertainty has weighed on a sector that exported watches worth 26 billion Swiss francs ($32.79 billion) in 2024. The business is already coping with weak Chinese demand, while in Switzerland, a franc supercharged by U.S. trade uncertainty has made the watches more expensive for foreign tourists. Switzerland, which relies heavily on trade, was stunned when Trump announced in April that he would impose a 31% tariff on the country, significantly higher than the 20% rate proposed for the European Union. "That obviously really put the brakes on," said Ken May, boutique manager at a Hublot store. Trump subsequently suspended the tariffs for 90 days, maintaining a 10% duty, and later extended his deadline until August 1. That sparked a rush by watchmakers to move their products to the U.S. ahead of the tariffs, causing Swiss exports to yo-yo up and down. The industry is on track to log its lowest export volumes for wristwatches since the pandemic in 2020, according to data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). "We have to open other markets," Yves Bugmann, FH president, said. "We have to look for other opportunities." Unit exports were down nearly 5% in the January–May period year-over-year, though marginally up in value terms. This summer, there are noticeably fewer tourists packing Lucerne's main watch-selling street. Those who come are more careful with their money, salespeople said. Thousands of watches glint at shoppers in Lucerne's Grendelstrasse, which boasts stores from Rolex to Patek Philippe. Watches in these shops typically cost from several hundred francs to more than 500,000 francs. At Patek Philippe, which sells watches online for nearly 3.8 million francs, customers take an elevator to an upstairs boutique. Here, a watchmaker wearing a white lab coat delivers customized timepieces on a tray to clients. "Everything is just a bit slower than last year," said Michael Haas, boutique manager of a Breitling store in Lucerne. "We're in a luxury business, and as a rule, that's where people save first when the going gets tougher."
Euronews
41 minutes ago
- Euronews
Migration Commissioner expelled from Libya as 'persona non grata'
Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, was on Tuesday declared "persona non grata" and asked to depart Libyan territory upon arriving at the airport of Benghazi. The order was issued by the Government of National Stability (GNS), the rival of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU). The former controls the city of Benghazi, and the latter controls Tripoli. The expulsion also applied to Matteo Piantedosi, Italy's minister of internal affairs, and a delegation of Greek and Maltese officials. They had all travelled to the country to discuss the recent surge in the departure of irregular migrants from Libya to Europe. In a press release signed by Prime Minister Osama Saad Hammad, the Government of National Stability denounced what it called "flagrant contravention of established diplomatic norms and international convention," and "actions that demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty", without providing specific details. "Consequently, the scheduled visit (...) was rescinded upon their arrival at Benina International Airport in the city of Benghazi," the press release says. "They were duly informed of the imperative to depart Libyan territory forthwith and were declared persona non grata." It was not immediately clear what prompted the expulsion. The European Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment. This is a developing story.
Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Fashion Network
Swiss watch exports decline amid US tariff uncertainty
Swiss watch sellers in Lucerne have endured a tough three months since U.S. President Donald Trump piled pressure on the luxury business with the threat of hefty tariffs, reducing interest from tourists who flock to the city in part to shop for watches. Reuters spoke with over a dozen industry workers in the watch-selling hub, including shop managers and salespeople, who said tariff uncertainty has weighed on a sector that exported watches worth 26 billion Swiss francs ($32.79 billion) in 2024. The business is already coping with weak Chinese demand, while in Switzerland, a franc supercharged by U.S. trade uncertainty has made the watches more expensive for foreign tourists. Switzerland, which relies heavily on trade, was stunned when Trump announced in April that he would impose a 31% tariff on the country, significantly higher than the 20% rate proposed for the European Union. "That obviously really put the brakes on," said Ken May, boutique manager at a Hublot store. Trump subsequently suspended the tariffs for 90 days, maintaining a 10% duty, and later extended his deadline until August 1. That sparked a rush by watchmakers to move their products to the U.S. ahead of the tariffs, causing Swiss exports to yo-yo up and down. The industry is on track to log its lowest export volumes for wristwatches since the pandemic in 2020, according to data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). "We have to open other markets," Yves Bugmann, FH president, said. "We have to look for other opportunities." Unit exports were down nearly 5% in the January–May period year-over-year, though marginally up in value terms. This summer, there are noticeably fewer tourists packing Lucerne's main watch-selling street. Those who come are more careful with their money, salespeople said. Thousands of watches glint at shoppers in Lucerne's Grendelstrasse, which boasts stores from Rolex to Patek Philippe. Watches in these shops typically cost from several hundred francs to more than 500,000 francs. At Patek Philippe, which sells watches online for nearly 3.8 million francs, customers take an elevator to an upstairs boutique. Here, a watchmaker wearing a white lab coat delivers customized timepieces on a tray to clients. "Everything is just a bit slower than last year," said Michael Haas, boutique manager of a Breitling store in Lucerne. "We're in a luxury business, and as a rule, that's where people save first when the going gets tougher."
