Latest news with #ChinaChamberOfCommerce
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Chinese Firms Warn EU Procurement Curb Could Hurt Trade Ties
A Chinese business lobby group warned that EU actions to curb access of the country's medical device makers to government contracts in the bloc will hurt trade ties. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU expressed 'profound disappointment' over the EU's use of a trade tool to limit Chinese companies' participation in public procurements, according to a Monday statement from the Chinese group.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
EU agrees reprisals against China over medical devices
The restriction was the first time the EU used its 2022 International Procurement Instrument that allowed reciprocal measures. (EPA Images pic) BRUSSELS : EU countries voted on Monday to exclude Chinese companies from selling medical devices in the bloc in reprisal for Beijing curbing European imports in the sector, diplomats said. The restriction was the first time the European Union has used its International Procurement Instrument, a 2022 regulation that allows reciprocal measures when it comes to public procurement. The move was likely to increase trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing at a time of broadened commercial volatility brought on by Washington's swingeing tariffs. An EU diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said the bloc's move adopting restrictions suggested by the European Commission were proportional, without giving details. An EU investigation concluded in January that China discriminated against EU medical devices in its public procurement, including in state-owned hospitals. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU in a statement expressed 'profound disappointment over this decision'. It said it had 'serious concerns about the EU's move to limit Chinese enterprises' participation in the EU procurement market, particularly in the healthcare sector'.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
EU backs curbs on Chinese medical device firms' bidding in public tenders
BRUSSELS, June 2 (Reuters) - European Union governments have backed a European Commission proposal to put limits on Chinese medical device suppliers' bidding on public contracts after finding EU companies were not given fair access to China's public tenders, EU diplomats said on Monday. The measures will be the first under the EU's International Procurement Instrument, which is designed to ensure reciprocity, after the Commission launched an investigation in April 2024. Under the instrument, the EU executive can exclude Chinese bidders from larger EU public procurement tenders or attach a penalty score to their bids for five years to tackle discrimination. The European Commission confirmed it put a proposal to EU members on Monday but said it could not disclose the outcome of the vote, the content of its proposal or its next steps. Under EU law, any measures must be "proportionate." The Commission has previously said it found "clear evidence" that China favoured Chinese devices for hospitals and its tender conditions led to abnormally low bids that profit-oriented companies could not offer. The new restrictions are likely to increase tensions inflamed by EU tariffs on China-built electric vehicles and Chinese measures against EU brandy. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic was due to meet Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Paris on Tuesday, according to Sefcovic's agenda. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU expressed "profound disappointment" about the decision, which it said failed to acknowledge the significant access European medical device firms had enjoyed in China. "At a time when the global trade faces considerable uncertainty, and certain countries are resorting to unilateral tariff measures that disrupt global market order, China and the EU... should jointly uphold free trade," it said. A Commission investigation published in January found 87% of a sample of Chinese public tenders contained direct and indirect restrictions on imported devices. It also said explicit bans on imported devices in Chinese tenders rose from 2022 to 2024. Restrictions primarily affected ear, nose and throat devices, such as used to clear airways, general diagnostic devices and diagnostic imaging devices. The Commission said China had not proposed any corrective action to remedy the situation. The two sides could still reach an agreement to avoid EU measures.
