European Commission strains trade relations with China

Brussels, Jan 14 (Prensa Latina) A new tension appeared today between the European Commission (EC) and China following accusations by the former concerning alleged evidence on medical devices that prosecute the latter.

January 14, 2025
11:41

The EC said Tuesday that it found clear evidence that European Union (EU) medical device suppliers do not have fair access to public tenders in China, which could eventually lead to restrictions on Chinese suppliers in the Union.

The EU executive said in a statement that it will now evaluate steps to address discrimination in China’s medical device procurement market.

The Commission launched its first investigation in April 2024 under its International Procurement Instrument (IPI), which aims to ensure reciprocity in access to public procurement.

Despite this, Brussels insisted that the EU remains committed to engaging with China in a constructive dialogue aimed at addressing and eliminating discriminatory measures.

For some analysts, this dispute highlights Beijing’s growing relevance in trade and economic matters in many respects, now related to medical devices.

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