China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the protectionist step of the EU to limit the participation of Chinese firms and products in major public procurement tenders involving medical devices, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday.
This statement from China came after the European Commission on June 20 opted to restrict participation by Chinese businesses and products in public procurement tenders in the medical device sector under the EU’s International Procurement Instrument.
A MOFCOM spokesperson urged the EU to rectify its wrong approach and pledged measures to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
The EU had continuously set barriers against Chinese firms in areas including public procurement and investment, according to a probe conducted by the ministry that concluded in January.
Despite China’s consistent demonstration of goodwill and sincerity through bilateral dialogue, the EU has persisted in deploying unilateral measures and erecting new protectionist barricades that not only harm Chinese enterprises but also severely distort fair competition, the spokesperson said.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, China is ready to proceed from the broader interests of bilateral economic and trade relations to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both sides, properly address trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, and stabilize confidence and expectations of cooperation between Chinese and European enterprises, the spokesperson added.
On June 20, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry, when responding to a question on the EU’s decision, said that “This is a typical double standard.”
“What I would like to point out is that China is committed to high-standard opening-up, upholding the principles of the market economy and WTO rules, and solving trade disputes through dialogue and consultation. The EU claims to be one of the most open markets in the world, but in reality it has been inching toward protectionism, frequently resorting to unilateral trade tools, and competing unfairly in the name of fair competition,” Guo noted.
We hope the EU will observe its commitment to an open market and WTO rules, provide Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment, and work for sound and steady China-EU trade ties. China will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, Guo said.
“This is the latest case of the EU adopting protectionism against China. Amid rising unilateralism, the EU should strengthen cooperation with China, expand respective markets and promote openness. However, this EU decision runs counter to global expectations,” Jian Junbo, deputy director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Jian said that the EU’s protectionist move will reduce mutual trust between Chinese and European companies and affect normal and healthy trade between both sides, noting that compared with the EU, China is proactively addressing trade disputes with Europe through dialogue.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao talked with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic on June 20 via video link, the MOFCOM said. The two sides conducted in-depth and professional exchanges on areas of China-EU economic and trade cooperation, including trade remedy cases such as the EU’s electric vehicle anti-subsidy case, as well as export controls and market access issues.
Jian noted that the EU should actively view economic and trade exchanges with China with an open mind, recognize the importance of China’s vast market for its economic recovery and development, and work with the Chinese side to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, as well as lay a solid foundation for a stable and healthy relationship between China and the EU for the next 50 years. Global Times
