China Criticizes EU’s Planned Curb on Medical Device Procurement

Beijing criticized as protectionist the European Union’s plan to curb Chinese medical device manufacturers’ access to public procurement contracts and vowed to take action to protect the country’s interests.

China urged the EU to handle any differences through dialog and cooperation to safeguard trade relations, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. “China will closely monitor the EU’s follow-up actions” and will take measures to protect the rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the ministry said in the statement.

China’s comments come after EU member states overwhelmingly agreed to the curb, which would represent the first use of ...