The EU has decided to exclude Chinese firms from public medical equipment contracts worth €5 million as a response to restrictions imposed on European companies in the Chinese market. China reacted by accusing Brussels of practicing ‘double standards.’ The measure covers a wide range of healthcare supplies, from masks and gowns to machines and robots, representing a €150 billion market in the EU. According to the European Commission, the aim is to encourage China to stop discriminating against medical technology products made in the EU. Tensions between Brussels and Beijing have escalated over the past three years in various economic sectors, including electric vehicles, railway industries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Amid global trade tensions, especially with U.S. President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on imports worldwide, the EU has hardened its stance, adopting legislation to better protect its companies from unfair competition. The EU claims that 95% of its public procurement is open to global competition, while European firms have almost no access to Chinese public procurement markets. Despite this, China accuses the EU of protectionism. After a year of unfruitful negotiations, the Commission decided to act. The goal remains ensuring fair competition for EU businesses while maintaining dialogue with China. In response, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson criticized the EU’s approach as hypocritical, emphasizing the growing trend of protectionism in Europe. The EU insists its response is proportionate to the barriers raised in China. The measure, effective in ten days, will not affect non-public contract imports or cause shortages due to the availability of alternative suppliers globally. Exceptions are planned if no alternatives to Chinese suppliers exist. The €5 million threshold covers 60% of the European medical technology market, excluding small hospitals with limited purchasing power.
EU Blocks Chinese Firms from Large Public Medical Procurement Contracts
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