Beijing opposes EU restrictions on Chinese medical devices

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing on Tuesday opposed the European Union's (EU) restrictions on Chinese medical devices entering the EU countries.

The EU has used "unilateral measures" to build "new protectionist barriers, which not only harm Chinese companies' interests, but also seriously undermine fair competition," despite Beijing's "goodwill," a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said during a news conference.

The EU decided to exclude Chinese firms from participating in public procurement tenders for medical devices worth over 5 million euros ($5.7 million) last Friday.

Beijing expressed its "firm opposition" to the restrictions and urged the EU to correct its "wrong approach," while vowing to take measures to safeguard Chinese companies' rights and interests.

The spokesperson also expressed China's willingness to "address economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation with the EU, and stabilize confidence and expectations of cooperation between Chinese and European companies."

The EU Commission had said that the move is in response to discriminatory practices by China, which the statement said has excluded EU-made medical devices from its own government tenders.

The EU countries buy medical devices worth around 150 billion euros ($127.7 billion) per year, 70% of which is purchased through public procurements, according to the commission.