China Chamber Condemns EU Discriminatory Restrictions on Medical Device Companies
China's Chamber of Commerce slams EU's ban on Chinese firms from major medical device tenders over 5 million euros.
A prominent Chinese business group has sharply criticized a recent decision by European Union member states to restrict Chinese companies from participating in public procurement tenders for medical devices. Under the new rule, Chinese firms are barred from bidding on contracts valued above 5 million euros (approximately $5.72 million) for a period of five years, invoking the bloc’s International Procurement Instrument (IPI).
In an official statement released on Monday, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) expressed profound disappointment and warned that the move could have far-reaching implications for China-EU economic relations. The chamber stated that the use of the IPI against Chinese enterprises sends a troubling signal and risks adding new complexity to bilateral trade ties.
The CCCEU emphasized that the measures appear to contradict the EU's stated principles of openness, fairness, and non-discrimination in market access. The IPI, which was adopted by the EU in 2022, was designed to ensure reciprocal openness in public procurement markets. However, Chinese representatives argue that true reciprocity must account for "historical and practical realities," citing the longstanding access European medical device manufacturers have enjoyed in China.
“The EU’s current decision fails to acknowledge this context and undermines the spirit of balanced engagement and mutual benefit,” the chamber asserted. It further stressed that the new restrictions do not align with cooperative efforts needed to address global economic challenges.
Raising broader concerns, the CCCEU pointed to increased protectionist trends worldwide, including recent tariff actions by other major economies that have disrupted international trade flows. “China and the EU, as two major global economies, should jointly uphold free trade and multilateral cooperation, instead of introducing unilateral restrictions that escalate tensions,” the statement read.
The chamber underscored that Chinese medical device companies have consistently adhered to international laws and regulations, making significant contributions to the EU through investments, technological development, and job creation. The CCCEU urged policymakers in Brussels to reconsider the necessity of the IPI measures, warning that leveraging such policy tools as de facto trade barriers could ultimately harm both sides’ interests and impede the global economic recovery.
As the policy takes effect, observers will be watching closely to see how the restrictions influence ongoing commercial relations between China and the EU’s medical technology sectors—and whether there may be broader repercussions for global supply chains and future regulatory cooperation.
