China's Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce released statements on Sunday on restrictive measures concerning medical device imports from the European Union (EU) in government procurement activities.
This came after the EU introduced measures that restrict Chinese companies and products from participating in its public procurement of medical devices in June.
According to a notice released by the Ministry of Finance on Sunday, the ministry has decided to adopt relevant measures concerning certain medical device imports from the EU in government procurement activities, with immediate effect on Sunday.
Specifically, for procurement projects where the purchaser's budget for medical devices exceeds 45 million yuan (about 6.28 million U.S. dollars), if the procurement of imported products is indeed necessary and the statutory procedures have been fulfilled, EU enterprises (excluding EU-invested enterprises operating in China) shall be excluded from participation, said the ministry.
For non-EU enterprises participating in such procurement, the proportion of medical devices imported from the EU must not exceed 50 percent of the total contract amount, and these measures do not apply to procurement projects where only EU-imported medical devices can meet the procurement requirements, the notice said.
For procurement projects involving the corresponding measures where the winning bid or transaction result were announced prior to the implementation date of this notice, the government procurement contract may still be signed, and the measures set out in this notice shall not apply, according to the notice.
Also on Sunday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said China is willing to resolve differences through consultation with the EU in response to a media query about this issue.
The spokesperson said on June 20, 2025, the European Commission introduced measures that restrict Chinese companies and products from participating in its public procurement of medical devices, continuing to impose barriers against Chinese enterprises in the field of public procurement.
China has repeatedly expressed through bilateral dialogues its willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue, consultation and bilateral government procurement arrangements, said the spokesperson.
Regrettably, the EU has ignored China's goodwill and sincerity, and has insisted on imposing restrictive measures and building new protectionist barriers. Therefore, China has had no choice but to adopt reciprocal restrictive measures, said the spokesperson, noting that these measures are aimed at safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and maintaining a fair competitive environment.
The measures only apply to medical device products imported from the EU and do not affect products manufactured in China by EU-invested enterprises, the spokesperson added.
China to take measures against medical devices imported from EU in government procurement
China to take measures against medical devices imported from EU in government procurement
