EU Plans Curbs on China's Access to Medical-Devices Procurement Market
The European Union plans to restrict Chinese companies' access to the bloc's medical-devices procurement market, adding to trade tensions between the two economies as the EU looks to reach a trade deal with the U.S.
EU member states on Monday voted in favor of a plan to impose the restrictions, people familiar with the matter said. The vote came after an EU investigation into China's procurement practices concluded that Beijing unfairly discriminates against European medical devices.
A European Commission spokesman confirmed that the bloc intends to adopt measures related to the investigation, but declined to comment on the results of Monday's vote or to detail what measures were proposed. The EU has toughened its stance on China in recent years and has indicated to the U.S. during trade talks that it is prepared to cooperate to address American concerns with China's economic practices.
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