China EU Photo:VCG

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) expressed profound disappointment over the EU member states' reported approval of restrictive measures under the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), while urging the EU to reconsider the necessity and long-term implications, CCCEU said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Tuesday. 

The restrictive measures limit Chinese companies' access to public procurement tenders in the medical device sector for contracts exceeding 5 million euros ($5.72 million) over a five-year period, according to the statement. 
 
The chamber said that it expresses profound disappointment over this decision and serious concerns about EU's move to limit Chinese enterprises' participation in the EU procurement market, particularly in the healthcare sector.
 
The IPI is a unilateral instrument introduced by the EU. Its targeted application against Chinese enterprises sends a troubling signal - not only adding new complexity to China-EU economic and trade relations, but also contradicting EU's stated principles of openness, fairness and non-discrimination in market access.
 
EU countries on Monday voted on the measures, and the move is the first action taken by the EU based on the IPI, a 2022 law that's meant to promote reciprocity in access to public procurement markets, Bloomberg reported. 
 
It is important to underscore that any pursuit of "market reciprocity" must be based on an accurate understanding of historical and practical realities, the chamber noted. European medical device companies have enjoyed significant access to the Chinese market, playing a key role in supporting the modernization of China's healthcare system and achieving substantial growth. EU's decision fails to acknowledge this context and undermines the spirit of balanced engagement and mutual benefit, read the statement.
 
The CCCEU urges the EU to reconsider the necessity and long-term implications of these restrictive measures under the IPI. "Turning policy instruments into de facto trade barriers would not only harm bilateral interests but also weaken global confidence in economic recovery and sustainable development," it said. 
 
At a time when the global trade faces considerable uncertainty, and certain countries are resorting to unilateral tariff measures that disrupt global market order, 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, read the statement. 
 
The CCCEU emphasized that Chinese enterprises have consistently operated in compliance with laws and regulations, following principles of integrity and good faith. Their contributions to the EU - through investment, technological advancement, and job creation - are widely recognized and valued, the chamber said. 
 
Global Times