logo
China blocks EU medical device firms from government tenders in response to Brussels restrictions

China blocks EU medical device firms from government tenders in response to Brussels restrictions

Saudi Gazette06-07-2025
BEIJING — China announced on Sunday that it will restrict European Union medical device companies from selling to the Chinese government, in a retaliatory move against recent EU procurement restrictions targeting Chinese firms.
According to a statement from China's Ministry of Finance, European companies will be barred from participating in public procurement tenders valued over 45 million yuan ($6.28 million).
The measure came into effect the same day and will apply only to companies that do not manufacture their products within China. European firms with production facilities inside China will be exempt.
The move marks the latest escalation in trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels. On Friday, China also imposed anti-dumping duties on European brandy imports — with French cognac producers most affected — though some major brands received limited exemptions.
China and the EU have been locked in a series of trade disputes across various sectors. Tensions intensified after the EU announced in June that Chinese suppliers would be excluded from government contracts exceeding €5 million ($5.89 million), citing China's 'recurring legal and administrative barriers' to EU firms.
The European Commission said the restrictions aim to incentivize China to open its public procurement market and end discriminatory practices.
China's Ministry of Commerce responded by accusing the EU of protectionism. 'China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences through dialogue and bilateral consultation,' a ministry spokesperson said. 'Unfortunately, the EU has ignored this goodwill and imposed new restrictive measures.'
The tit-for-tat measures have added strain to an already complex economic relationship, with additional investigations ongoing into European pork and dairy exports to China, and EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles still under review. — Agencies
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EU sees limited progress on Gaza aid despite Israel deal, says EU foreign policy chief
EU sees limited progress on Gaza aid despite Israel deal, says EU foreign policy chief

Al Arabiya

time6 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

EU sees limited progress on Gaza aid despite Israel deal, says EU foreign policy chief

There have been some signs of more trucks and supplies getting to Gaza but the European Union doesn't see enough improvement on the ground, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday, ahead of a meeting with senior Middle Eastern and EU officials in Brussels. The EU reached an agreement with Israel last week to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip, including increasing aid trucks and opening crossing points and certain aid routes. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said 'nothing has changed' since an agreement between Israel and the European Union on the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He made the statements to reporters ahead of the EU-Middle East meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Trump says he is open to trade talks; EU officials coming
Trump says he is open to trade talks; EU officials coming

Al Arabiya

time7 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Trump says he is open to trade talks; EU officials coming

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was open to discussions with the European Union and other trading partners before higher tariffs kick in on August 1, noting that EU officials were coming to the United States for talks. 'They would like to do a different kind of a deal and we're always open to talk, including to Europe. In fact, they're coming over. They'd like to talk.' Trump stepped up his trade war on Saturday, saying he would impose a 30 percent tariff on most imports from the EU and Mexico from next month, adding to similar warnings for other countries including Asian economic powerhouses Japan and South Korea.

SFDA suspends European pharmaceutical factory over critical GMP violations
SFDA suspends European pharmaceutical factory over critical GMP violations

Saudi Gazette

time10 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

SFDA suspends European pharmaceutical factory over critical GMP violations

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has suspended the registration of a European pharmaceutical factory following the discovery of serious violations of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) during an external inspection. The decision came after SFDA inspectors identified fundamental lapses in the factory's manufacturing procedures and internal quality systems, posing a direct risk to the safety of pharmaceutical products intended for export to Saudi Arabia. The suspension was enacted as a precautionary measure to prevent the distribution of potentially unsafe medicines in the Kingdom. The inspection, conducted under the SFDA's foreign factory oversight program, aligns with international regulatory standards and involved a comprehensive review of the facility's manufacturing operations, quality controls, and distribution protocols. Several European regulatory agencies have since reached out to the SFDA to examine its technical findings and take further actions, reflecting growing international recognition of the SFDA's regulatory rigor and global role in pharmaceutical safety. The Authority stressed that the monitoring of overseas manufacturing sites is a key pillar of its regulatory framework and is carried out independently using scientific and technical data. It reaffirmed its commitment to consumer safety and pledged to continue taking decisive action against any manufacturer found to be in violation of safety protocols.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store