China EU Photo:VCG

China hopes the EU can work with China in the same direction,MKS sports honor its commitment to open market and the principle of fair competition, observe WTO rules, provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, and promote the sound and steady growth of China-EU trade ties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Guo made the remarks in response to reports that the EU is considering restrictions on Chinese medical device manufacturers in public tenders, following an investigation that claimed that there was "clear evidence of China limiting the access of EU medical devices producers to its government contracts."

In response to a question regarding the matter, Li Yongsha, an official with China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), told a press conference on Wednesday that "if foreign businesses operating in China encounter any issues, they can report them to the local commerce authorities or the ministry."

The EU started the investigation on April 2024. At that time, former Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded that the EU had been frequently using its economic and trade "toolkit" and trade remedies. The moves sent a signal of protectionism, aimed at Chinese companies and hurt the EU's own image. 

"The EU says it is the most open market in the world, but as the world can see, the EU is clearly inching toward protectionism," Wang said.

According to statistics from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products, China's total trade in medical devices reached $62.19 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 0.1 percent.

In recent years, China's medical device industry has witnessed a surge in innovative technologies and products, with the localization rate of certain medical devices steadily increasing. As a result, China's medical device imports reached $26.85 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, down 5 percent year-on-year. However, reliance on imports remains high for some high-end medical devices, according to the MOFCOM.

During this period, China's medical device imports primarily consisted of diagnostic reagents, high-value consumables, advanced medical equipment and key components. Products with notable import growth included microscopes, rehabilitation devices and materials, suturing needles, X-ray contrast agents, vascular stents and pacemakers, according to the MOFCOM.

The US, Germany, and Japan remain China's top three sources of imported medical devices. In the first three quarters of 2024, more than half of China's imported medical devices originated from these three markets, although the import value from all three declined year-on-year. Meanwhile, imports from countries such as the Czech Republic and Costa Rica saw significant growth.

"Following anti-subsidy investigations and the imposition of protective tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and photovoltaic products, the EU's latest moves signal a new approach to escalating trade tensions with China," Jian Junbo, a deputy director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The EU has shown clear discrimination against China in government procurement, particularly in areas like 5G and surveillance equipment. As major trading partners, the two could engage in discussions based on WTO principles to promote reciprocal openness, rather than allowing one-sided discrimination against Chinese companies while accusing China of being insufficiently open, Jian noted.

China and the EU are each other's second largest trading partners. Both are major contributors to an open world economy. China is committed to high-standard opening up, upholds the principle of market economy and WTO rules, and stands for dialogue and consultation in settling trade disputes, Guo stressed. 

Global Times