The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) has expressed strong disappointment over a recent decision by EU member states to block Chinese companies from participating in public procurement tenders in the medical device sector. The ban applies to contracts valued over 5 million euros (about $5.72 million) under the bloc’s International Procurement Instrument (IPI) and will last for five years.
In a statement released on Monday, the CCCEU warned that targeting Chinese enterprises through the IPI sends a troubling signal. The chamber emphasized that these measures not only add new complexities to China-EU economic and trade relations but also contradict the EU’s principles of openness, fairness, and non-discrimination in market access.
The IPI, adopted by the EU in 2022, is a tool intended to ensure market reciprocity in public procurement. However, the CCCEU argued that any push for reciprocity must be based on an accurate understanding of historical and practical realities. The chamber noted that European medical device companies have enjoyed significant access to the Chinese mainland’s market for years.
“The EU’s current decision fails to acknowledge this context and undermines the spirit of balanced engagement and mutual benefit,” the CCCEU stated.
The chamber also voiced broader concerns over rising protectionism, pointing out that recent unilateral measures by certain countries have disrupted global trade. “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 added.
Chinese firms have consistently operated in compliance with laws and regulations, contributing to the EU through investment, technological advancement, and job creation, according to the chamber. The CCCEU urged EU policymakers to reassess the necessity and long-term implications of the IPI measures, cautioning that using policy tools as de facto trade barriers could harm bilateral interests and hinder global economic recovery efforts.
